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Library  building. 


PUBLIC  PAPERS  AND  LETTERS 
OF  CAMERON  MORRISON 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  witii  funding  from 

Ensuring  Democracy  through  Digital  Access  (NC-LSTA) 


http://www.archive.org/details/publicpap19211925morr 


c. 


PUBLIC  PAPERS  AND  LETTERS 

of 

CAMERON  MORRISON 

GOVERNOR  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
1921-1925 


COMPILED    BY 

WILLIAM  H.  RICHARDSON 

PRIVATE  SECRETARY  TO  THE  GOVERNOR 


EDITED    BY 

D.  L.  CORBITT 

CHIEF    LIBRARY   ASSISTANT,    NORTH 
CAROLINA  HISTORICAL  COMMISSION 


Raleigh 

Edwaeds  &  Beoughton  Company 

State  Printebs 

1927 


v9 


PREFACE 

This  volume  was  compiled  by  William  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary  to  Governor  Morrison,  in  fulfillment  of 
the  duty  of  the  Governor's  secretary  to  keep  an  official 
letter-book.  At  the  termination  of  Governor  Morrison's 
administration,  the  material  was  turned  over  to  the  North 
Carolina  Historical  Commission  for  preservation.  In 
printing  this  volume  the  method  and  procedure  used  in 
the  publication  of  Governor  Bickett's  letter-book  has  been 
adopted.  Authority  was  granted  by  the  Council  of  State 
and  funds  for  printing  were  provided  by  the  Printing  Com- 
mission. 

The  introduction,  a  biographical  sketch  of  Governor 
Morrison,  was  written  by  Justice  Heriot  Clarkson,  and 
the  editor  wishes  to  make  full  and  proper  acknowledgment 
to  him  for  this  section  of  the  volume. 

The  editor  is  indebted  to  Misses  Mamie  C.  Turner  and 
Margaret  WiUis  for  assistance  in  supplying  dates,  etc., 
and  to  R.  B.  House  and  A.  R.  Newsome  for  valuable 
suggestions. 

D.    L.    CORBITT. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
August  1,  1927. 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Portrait  of  Governor  Morrison Frontispiece 

Preface v 

A  Biographical  Sketch  of  Cameron  Morrison: 

Acknowledgment xv 

Biographical  Sketch xvii 

Messages  to  the  General  Assembly: 

1921 

Inaugural  Address 3 

Taxation:  Department  of  Revenue:  Commissioner  of  Banks.  15 

Recommending  Directorate  for  Institutional  Appropriations .  26 

InadequateFunds  to  Maintain  Six  Months  School 28 

Provide  Funds  for  Six  Months  School 30 

Nominations  and  Appointments 31 

1923 

Message  to  the  General  Assembly 36 

Press  Reports  by  A.  J.  Maxwell 54 

Nominations  and  Appointments 59 

Salaries  and  Wages  Paid  in  the  Executive  Office 61 

1924 

Calling  Special  Session  of  the  General  Assembly 61 

Amendment  and  Water  Transportation 63 

Appointments  Submitted  to  the  Senate 97 

Proclamations  by  the  Governor: 

1921 

Mothers'  Day 101 

Near  East  Relief 102 

Law  and  Order  in  Cabarrus  County 103 

Fire  Prevention  Day 105 

Armistice  Day 107 

Thanksgiving  Day 108 

1922 

Jewish  Relief  Week.      .    '. 110 

Mothers'  Day HI 

Rocky  Mount  Strike 112 

Rocky  Mount  Strike 113 


viii  Contents 

Proclamations  by  the  Governor — Continued:  Page 

Spencer  Strike 115 

Fire  Prevention  Day 117 

Armistice  Day 119 

Thanksgiving  Day 119 

1923 

Clean-up  Week 121 

"Bundle  Day" 122 

Mothers'  Day 123 

Citizens  Military  Training  Camp 124 

Funeral  Services  of  President  Harding 125 

Japanese  Disaster 126 

Armistice  Day 127 

Thanksgiving  Day 128 

1924 

Woodrow  Wilson's  Death 129 

Woodrow  Wilson  Memorial  Sunday 130 

Mothers'  Day 130 

National  Defense 131 

Fire  Prevention  Week 132 

Arbor  Day 133 

Armistice  Day 134 

Thanksgiving  Day •    •    •  1^^ 

1925 

Presidential  Electors 136 

Appeals  to  the  Public:  ^„-^ 

The  Ex-Service  Men  to  Join  the  American  Legion     ....  141 

Observe  Cripple  Census  Week 142 

Increased  Food  Production 143 

1923 

Help  Rehabilitate  Elon  College 147 

Forest  Protection  Week 147 

The  Harding  Memorial  Association 148 

1924 

Purchase  and  Wear  a  Poppy 148 

Public  Addresses:  1091 

Trained   Men  Taking  the  Leadership — An  Address  to  the 

Graduating  Class  of  North  Carolina  State  College.    .    .  151 


Contents  ix 

Public  Addresses — Continued:  Page 

Know  Yourself  Religiously  and  Politically — An  Address  to 

the  Graduating  Class  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina       153 

The  Spirit  of  Brotherhood  and  Helpfulness — Farmers'  Union 

Convention  at  Raleigh 158 

Law  and  Order  Guaranteeing  Liberty  Must  be  Maintained — 
An  Address  to  the  People  of  Cabarrus  County  at  Con- 
cord         160 

Save  for  Humanity  the  Fabric  of  Government  Founded  Upon 
the  Competitive  System — A  Speech  Before  the  American 
Legion  at  Henderson ville 169 

1922 

Progress  Ne<ded  in  North  CaroHna — Speech  Delivered  at 

Cullowl^e 172 

North  Carolna  Must  Progress — An  Address  to  the  Graduat- 
ing Cla/s  at  North  CaroHna  State  College 178 

Agricultural  Improvements  Needed  in  North  Carolina — An 
Addre^  to  the  Graduating  Class  at  the  North  Carolina 
'     Collegi  for  Women 180 

1923 

Robert    Eirns — Speech    Before    the    Scottish    Society    of 

Amerca,  at  New  York 188 

North  Caolina  Day — Speech  Before  the  Charlotte  Rotary 

Club 195 

Must  Figt  the  Boll  Weevil  and  the  Boll  Weevil  Politician— 

SpeeQ  to  the  Sand  Hills  Fair  at  Pinehurst 211 


State  Prid 
Speec 


1924 

and  Finer  Fighting  Spirit  for  North  Carolina — 
at  the  Dedication  of  Reynolds  Auditorium  at 


Winstki-Salem 218 

Statements  ad  Interviews  for  the  Press: 

I  1921 

Authority  |  Call  an  Extra  Session  of  the  General  Assembly.        225 
Harris's  Eljtrocution 229 

J  1922 

The  Crop  Chsus 230 

State  Troop^to  Rocky  Mount 231 

Withdrawinnfroops  from  Aberdeen,  Rockingham,  Raleigh 

and  RoL  Mount 232 


X  Contents 

Statements  and  Interviews  for  the  Press — Continued:  Page 

Troops  Ordered  to  Spencer 232 

No  Authority  to  Fix  the  Price  of  Coal 233 

Election  Returns;  North  Carolina's  Future.  I 234 

Ship  Subsidies 235 

Near  East  Relief 237 

1923 

The  Revenue  Bill  and  the  Deficit 238 

The  Record  of  the  General  Assembly 239 

Progress   in   North   Carolina   Through  Harmoiy   and    Co- 
operation   240 

Investigation  of  the  Prison  Conditions  in  the  Sta^.e    ....  242 

Commuting  Nine  Hundred  and  Fifty-nine  Prisoners ....  243 

A.  J.  Maxwell's  Part  in  the  Revenue  Bill  of  1921 243 

The  Revenue  Bill  of  1921 248 

Newspapers  Should  Get  the  Facts  About  the  Defici.   ....  250 

State  Deficit;  the  Method  of  Financing  the  Governnent.    .    .  253 
President  Harding;  A  Noble  Gentleman  and  an  Eloquent 

Defender  of  Free  Government 254 

Law  and  Order  at  Spruce  Pine 255 

The  Removal  of  Dr.  McBrayer  from  Office 256 

1924 

Geological   and   Economic   Survey   Should    Be   Loated   at 

Raleigh;  Appointment  of  Brent  S.  Drane 257 

The  Dismemberment  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkii  Valley 

Railroad 259 

May  Call  Extra  Session  of  the  General  Assembly 261 

Mr.  Henry  to  Study  the  League  of  Nations 262 

Opposition  to  His  Water  Transportation  Bill 263 

Water  Transportation  Bill  Defeated 266 

Oral  Arguments  of  Petitions  for  Pardons 267 

No  Date 

Constitutional  Amendment  Limiting  the  State's  ndebted- 

'                  ness  and  Creating  the  Amortization  Fund 268 

The  Ship  Corporation  to  Go  to  the  General  Assubly  and 

to  the  People  of  the  State 269 

J.  W.  Bailey's  Attack  on  the  Appointment  of  A.  EWatts .    .  270 
Denying  Any  Personal  Attack  Upon  the  Corpor:ion  Com- 

mission ^'^ 


Contents  xi 

Public  Letters  and  Telegrams: 

1922  P^g^ 

McBrayer,  L.  B.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 277 

Medical  Society  Resolutions 277 

Royster,  H.  A.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram 278 

Harding,  Warren  G.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  r^/^gram.   .    .  278 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  President  Harding,  Telegram  ...  279 
Gay,  C.  L.;  Thomas,  J.  W.;  Cornwell,  J.  L.,  To  Governor 

Morrison,  Letter 279 

Cannon,    Felix;   Mauney,   R.    S.,   To   Governor  Morrison, 

Telegram 

Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  To  Governor  Mor- 
rison, Telegram •    • 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers, Telegram ^^^ 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  FeHx  Cannon,  Telegram 282 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  J.  F.  Barrett,  r^/^gmm 283 

Morrison,   Governor,  To  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers, Telegram 283 

Harding,  Warren  G.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  r^/^gram.    .    .  284 

Morrisoi,  Governor,  To  President  Harding,  Telegram  ...  286 

Page,  Henry  A.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 287 

Kenly,  J.  R.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram 288 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  President  Harding,  L^«^r 290 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  J.  F.  Barrett,  T^/^gmm 291 

Gompers,  Samuel,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 291 

Christian,  Geo.  B.,  Jr.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter   ...  292 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Herbert  Hoover,  Letter 292 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Fairfax  Harrison,  Telegram  ....  293 

Harding,  Warren  G.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  r^/^gmw.   .    .  293 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Warren  G.  Harding,  Telegram ...  294 

New  York  Tribune,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram  ...  294 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  New  York  Times,  r^/^gmm.    ...  295 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  New  York  Tribune,  Telegram  ...  295 


1923 

Battle,  George  Gordon,  to  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram. 

Moody,  W.  T.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 

A  Proclamation  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  . 
Pugsley,  C.  W.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter  .... 
Richardson,  William  H.,  To  C.  W.  Pugsley,  Letter  .  . 
Morrison,  Governor,  To  Mrs.  Kate  Burr  Johnson,  Letter 
Morrison,  Governor,  To  James  S.  Manning,  Letter.  .  . 
Morrison,  Governor,  To  Heriot  Clarkson,  Telegram  .  . 
Clarkson,  Heriot,  To  Governor  Morrison,  L^H^r.    .    .    . 


296 
296 
297 
298 
299 
299 
30C 
30C 
301 


xii  Contents 

Public  Letters  and  Telegrams — Continued:  Page 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Heriot  Clarkson,  Letter 301 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  A.  T.  Allen,  Letter 301 

Brooks,  E.  C,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 302 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  E.  C.  Brooks,  Letter 302 

Allen,  A.  T.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 303 

London,  Henry  M.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Letter 303 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Joint  Legislative  Committee.      .    .  304 

Giles,  Clayton,  Resolution  of  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.    .  305 

Richardson,  William  H.,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram.    .  306 

1924 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Mrs.  Warren  G.  Harding,  Telegram  306 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  John  A.  Park,  Letter 307 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  "Public,"  Letter 307 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  George  Butler,  Telegram 308 

Morrison,  Governor,  To  Mrs.  Locke  Craig,  Telegram.    .    .    .  308 
Consolidated    Press    Association,    To    Governor    Morrison, 

Telegram 308 

Hoover,  Herbert,  To  Governor  Morrison,  Telegram 309 

Miscellaneous  Material: 

1923 

Punishment  Administered  Prisoners  of  the  State  Prison    .    .  313 

Affidavit  Concerning  the  Conduct  of  Ada  Adams 315 

Offer  of  3400  Reward 317 

Report  and  Recommendations  of  George  Ross  Pou,  Super- 
intendent of  State  Prison 317 

Resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  State  Prison   .  323 
Service  Rendered  by  the  Ship  and  Water  Transportation 

Commission' 323 

Appointments 325 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF 
CAMERON  MORRISON 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

This  sketch  of  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
CaroHna  from  1921  to  1925,  has  been  a  task  of  love  and 
devotion.  It  has  been  written  to  perpetuate  the  progress 
made  in  North  CaroHna  while  he  was  leading  the  State 
forward  to  bigger  things  and  larger  opportunities. 

I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  E.  C.  Branson  for  reading  the 
manuscript,  and  herewith  embody  his  letter  in  this  preface 
in  acknowledgment  of  his   services. 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
Chapel  Hill,  N,  C. 

April  7,   1925. 
Justice  Heriot  Clarkson 
Supreme  Court 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  Dear  Justice  Clarkson: 

I  went  to  bed  with  your  Sketch  of  Governor  Morrison's  Adminis- 
tration because,  as  usual,  I  get  no  chance  to  read  anything  thought- 
fully or  enjoyably  except  in  the  wakeful  hours  of  the  night. 
^  Your  chapter  for  Captain  Samuel  A.  Ashe's  volume  of  the  Biographical 
History  of  North  Carolina  gave  me  unalloyed  pleasure  from  the  first 
syllable  to  the  last.  It  is  a  line  piece  of  work.  You  are  certainly 
establishing  the  place  and  rank  of  Governor  Morrison  in  State  history 
as  Carlyle  established  Cromwell  in  English  history  or  Alderman 
established  Wilson  in  United  States  history. 

I  do  not  believe  any  man  will  dare  to  question  any  statement  in  your 
sketch. 

I  read  your  contribution  with  my  pencil  in  hand  and  when  I  got 
through  I  found  that  I  had  not  touched  it  in  even  a  half  dozen  places, 
in  every  instance  to  correct  a  mere  typographical  error. 

Like  Governor  Morrison  himself  you  are  capable  of  deathless  devotion 
to  a  friendship.  It  is  a  rare  virtue  in  this  sorry  world  and  it  lifts  you 
high    in    my    estimation. 

My  very  best  wishes  to  you  always,  I  am. 

Faithfully  yours, 

(Signed)  E.  C.  Branson. 
(Head  of  Rural  Social-Economics.) 


xvi  Acknowledgment 

I  also  wish  to  make  acknowledgments  to  Archibald 
Johnson,  W.  C.  Dowd,  Bailey  T.  Croome  and  Paul  C. 
Whitlock  for  valuable  assistance  rendered  me  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  article.  These  men  wrote  sketches  of  Governor 
Morrison  prior  to  his  nomination  for  Governor,  and  I  have 
taken  much  from  them. 

Heriot  Clarkson. 
September  1,  1926. 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF 
CAMERON  MORRISON 


BY 

Heriot  Clarkson 


The  wisest  man  hath  said  "Where  there  is  no  vision, 
the  people  perish."  This  sketch  is  of  a  man  who  loves  his 
State  and  people  and  had  a  vision  to  help  make  it  morally 
and  materially  great.  His  life  has  been  one  of  service  and 
sacrifice  to  this  great  purpose. 

Cameron  Morrison  was  born  at  Rockingham,  Richmond 
County,  North  Carolina,  October  5,  1869.  His  father, 
Daniel  M.  Morrison,  was  born  of  parents  who  were  both 
Morrisons,  and  who  in  their  childhood  came  on  the  same 
ship  from  Scotland  to  America,  although  they  were  unknown 
to  each  other  in  their  native  country. 

Daniel  A/I.  Morrison  married  Martha  Cameron,  a  daughter 
of  John  Worthy  Cameron.  Mr.  Cameron,  a  man  of 
extraordinary  talents  and  great  learning,  was  a  native  of 
Moore  County,  North  Carolina.  He  bore  the  reputation 
of  being  at  least  the  equal  of  any  lawyer  of  his  day  in  his 
section  of  the  State  and  was  a  very  active  and  influential 
man,  not  only  in  his  profession,  but  in  the  public  and 
political  affairs  of  his  time.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  acted  in  the  capacity 
of  presidential  elector  and  held  various  minor  county  and 
state  offices.  He  was  also  an  able  journalist,  having  for 
several  years  edited  the  North  Carolina  Argus,  which  was 
published  at  Fayetteville.  His  brilliant  gifts  as  a  writer 
are  remembered  and  cherished  in  the  tradition  of  the 
Cape  Fear  section.  Going  back  two  generations  farther, 
the  grandfather  of  this  John  was  another  John  Cameron, 
who  came  from  Scotland  just  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War,  settled  in  Moore  County,  reared  a  large  family  and 
became  the  progenitor,  not  only  of  Governor  Morrison, 
but  of  most  of  the  Camerons  of  that  part  of  North  Carolina. 

Governor  Morrison's  maternal  grandmother,  wife  of 
John  Worthy  Cameron,  was  Caroline  Crawford,  daughter 
of  William  Crawford,  of  Richmond  County,  and  through 


xviii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

her  his  ancestry  traces  back  to  another  of  Scotland's 
most  distinguished  famiUes.  Naturally  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
he  is  a  Presbyterian  in  faith,  and  is  broad  in  Christian 
fellowship. 

The  early  history  of  Cameron  Morrison  is  one  of  struggle 
with  difficulties  that  were  hard  to  overcome.  His  youth 
was  spent  during  a  period  in  which  an  education  was  not 
easily  obtained  by  any  save  those  of  wealth.  The  free 
schools  of  the  country  community  in  which  his  parents 
lived  were  open  only  for  a  month  or  two  each  year,  and  the 
best  young  Morrison  could  do  was  to  attend  one  of  these 
schools  in  a  log  school  house.  His  father  was  a  man  of 
great  industry,  but  in  those  days  wages  were  low  and  work 
not  easily  obtained. 

At  about  eight  years  of  age,  after  the  death  of  his  mother, 
he  was  placed  under  the  tutelage  of  N.  C.  McCaskill,  a 
noble  old  Scotchman,  who  taught  a  little  school  at  Ellerbe 
Springs,  in  Richmond  County.  Board  was  obtained  for 
him  at  a  near-by  home,  where  he  helped  about  the  house 
and  on  the  farm  when  he  was  not  in  school.  At  the  end 
of  the  first  year  McCaskill  moved  his  school  to  the  old 
Terry  school  house  near  Roberdel  factory  in  Richmond 
County.  Board  was  secured  for  young  Morrison  with  a 
farmer  named  C.  P.  Dawkins,  who  lived  about  two  miles 
distant  from  the  school.  He  worked  on  the  Dawkins  farm 
at  odd  times.  After  a  year  at  this  school  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  go  to  work.  His  father  was  struggling  to 
support  three  other  small  children  in  addition  to  young 
Morrison.  Work  was  obtained  in  Wolf  Pit  Township 
in  a  country  commissary  and  on  a  farm.  This  continued 
for  a  year  or  two,  the  boy  earning  his  support. 

Then  for  four  years,  with  one  year  intervening  in  which 
he  clerked  in  a  grocery  store,  he  attended  school  in  the 
town  of  Rockingham,  where  he  for  the  first  time  in  several 
years  had  the  great  pleasure  of  boarding  at  the  same  place 
with  his  father.  He  was  a  bright  student  and  at  the  end 
of  that  period  his  teacher,  the  late  William  Carroll,  declared 
him  to  be  well  prepared  for  college.  A  college  career  was 
impossible.     It  was  absolutely  necessary  for  young  Morrison 


Cameron  Morrison  xIx 

to  go  to  work  and  help  his  father  take  care  of  the  other 
three  children.  All  who  knew  the  struggling  youth  knew 
that  he  could  have  worked  his  way  through  college  but 
for  the  necessity  of  helping  to  support  the  family. 

Denied  his  cherished  ambition  to  go  to  college,  he  went 
to  work.  During  the  next  four  or  five  years,  he  held 
different  positions,  all  the  while  studying  with  great  avidity. 
Among  other  things  he  worked  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  Register  of  Deeds,  receiving  a  salary  of  330  per  month, 
and  he  also  taught  in  the  free  schools  at  ^40  per  month. 

Young  Morrison's  father  was  a  Republican,  during 
this  period.  He  had  been  a  brave  Confederate  soldier, 
and  a  Democrat  during  the  days  of  Vance,  and  had  helped 
to  redeem  the  State;  but,  like  a  great  many  good  men  have 
done,  he  had  fallen  out  with  the  Democratic  party  over 
some  local  matter,  and  became  a  Republican.  Thus,  as 
Morrison  approached  manhood,  he  was  under  Republican 
environment.  In  1890,  and  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  he  joined  his  father  in  the  local  political 
fights  and  went  to  Raleigh  as  a  delegate  to  a  Republican 
State  convention.  He  returned  home  and  shortly  there- 
after informed  his  father  that  he  could  not  be  a  Republican; 
that  if  the  Republican  party  ever  got  in  power  in  North 
Carolina  they  would  ruin  the  State.  The  elder  Morrison 
was  at  that  time  postmaster  at  Rockingham,  and  young 
Morrison  was  working  with  him  in  the  postofiice  for  his 
board  and  clothes.  He  was  at  the  same  time  studying  law 
and  was  about  ready  to  go  to  law  school.  Morrison  left 
the  postOifi.ce  and  secured  a  position  as  teacher  in  a  public 
school  and  made  sufficient  money  to  attend  the  school  of 
Judge  Robert  P.  Dick  in  Greensboro.  Pie  studied  law 
under  Judge  Dick  for  twelve  months.  A  few  months 
after  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  publicly  announced 
that  he  was  a  Democrat.  This  was  before  he  obtained 
his  license  to  practice  law. 

Young  Morrison  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in  February, 
1892,  and  immediately  opened  an  office  in  Rockingham. 
His  knowledge  of  the  law  combined  with  unusual  abilities 
as  an  advocate,  quickly  obtained  for  him  high  rank  at  the 


XX  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

bar.  These  qualities  were  supplemented  by  literary  attain- 
ments that  were  a  surprise  to  those  who  did  not  know  him 
intimately.  These  were  the  result  of  wide  reading  that 
had  been  carried  on  privately  by  him  through  the  years  of 
struggle. 

The  bar  at  that  time  in  Richmond  County  was  an 
unusually  able  one,  composed  of  Major  John  D.  Shaw, 
and  his  two  sons  John  D.  Shaw,  Jr.,  and  A.  C.  Shaw, 
James  T.  LeGrand,  Franklin  McNeill,  Judge  Walter  H. 
Neal,  T.  C.  Guthrie,  and  others. 

Morrison  was  not  only  a  powerful  advocate  and  a  trial 
lawyer  without  superior  in  his  county,  but  his  general 
ability  was  such  that  his  services  were  sought  by  the  larger 
business  interests  of  his  county,  many  of  which  retained 
him  as  their  general  counselor. 

Morrison's  natural  love  for  the  public  service  manifested 
itself  early.  In  the  spring  of  1892,  in  the  Democratic 
convention,  he  made  his  first  Democratic  speech.  This 
speech  was  made  under  dramatic  circumstances.  The 
whole  county  knew  the  struggle  young  Morrison  was  having 
on  account  of  his  father's  political  affiliation.  He  com- 
menced his  speech  by  a  quotation  from  Demosthenes: 
"Man  is  born  not  unto  his  parents  alone,  but  unto  God 
and  his  country  as  well."  Richmond  County  was  at  that 
time  overwhelmingly  Republican.  In  the  campaign  which 
followed,  he  canvassed  the  county.  His  speeches  marked 
him  as  a  young  political  leader  of  great  ability. 

The  campaigns  of  1892  and  1894  have  been  largely 
forgotten,  but  they  were  bitter  and  dangerous  struggles  in 
the  eastern  section  of  the  State.  Richmond  County  was 
overwhelmingly  Republican,  as  stated.  The  Democrats 
were  trying  to  prevent  the  negroes  from  voting  under  the 
technicalities  of  the  Payne  election  law.  If  it  could  be 
enforced,  the  negroes  could  be  prevented  from  voting, 
and  the  county  could  be  carried  Democratic.  The  Populist 
revolt  commenced  in  1892  and  this  increased  the  difficulties. 
Young  Morrison  was  threatened  with  violence  time  and  time 
again  in  both  campaigns.  In  1894,  he  not  only  spoke  all 
over    Richmond    County,    but    in    surrounding    counties. 


Cameron  Morrison  xxi 

In  Richmond  County  he  came  near  being  killed  in  Beaver 
Dam  Township,  where  he  challenged  over  200  negroes  for 
illegal  registration  and  prevented  them  from  voting.  On 
the  night  of  the  election  he  and  a  Republican  leader  had  a 
desperate  encounter  over  Morrison's  campaign  speeches. 
They  fought  fairly.  Both  were  good  men  physically,  and 
they  fought  till  both  had  to  be  put  to  bed.  The  times  were 
dangerous  and  Morrison  lived  for  years  in  constant  danger 
of  personal  violence. 

In  1896  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate.  He 
canvassed  the  entire  section  of  the  State  for  the  party, 
but  went  down  in  defeat  as  all  other  Democrats  did  that 
year  in  his  district.  The  fusionists  had  the  State  from 
'94  to  '98  and  during  that  period  conditions  became  intoler- 
able in  the  State. 

In  Richmond  County  they  were  desperately  bad.  There 
were  forty  negroes  in  office  in  the  county,  thirteen  negro 
justices  of  the  peace,  a  negro  on  the  county  board  of 
education,  and  two  on  each  township  school  board.  The 
juries  were  full  of  negroes.  Lawlessness  was  widespread 
throughout  the  entire  eastern  part  of  the  State.  Morrison 
commenced  to  organize  the  white  people  with  the  utmost 
care.  He  was  made  chairman  of  the  Democratic  Executive 
Committee  of  Richmond  County  in  1898  and  proceeded 
early  to  oj^anize  each  precinct  in  the  county,  which  then 
included  the  present  county  of  Scotland,  and  was  seventy 
miles  long.  He  mercilessly  denounced  the  wrongs  and 
malfeasances  of  the  county  officials.  In  the  midst  of  the 
violence  and  danger  of  the  times,  Morrison  lived  in  con- 
stant danger  of  deadly  encounters  with  the  desperate 
negro  leaders  of  that  day.  Finally,  in  defense,  not  for 
aggression,  as  is  generally  supposed,  the  white  men  donned 
their  red  shirts.  Morrison  had  been  made  supremely 
happy  by  the  fact  that  his  father  had  withdrawn  from  the 
Republican  party  and  joined  him.  From  that  day  the 
elder  Morrison  became  a  power  in  the  fight  for  democracy 
and  white  supremacy.  In  this  campaign,  young  Morrison's 
speeches  were  powerful  in  their  denunciation  of  Republican 
misrule,  yet  so  convincing  and  appealing  that  hundreds  of 


xxii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

Republicans  joined  the  Democratic  party  and  put  on  white 
supremacy  buttons.  At  one  speaking  at  Ellerbe  Springs 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  RepubHcans  joined  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  On  Saturday  before  the  election,  there  was 
in  Rockingham  probably  the  most  spectacular  Red  Shirt 
parade  that  ever  took  place  in  the  State.  The  parade 
was  headed  by  the  elder  Morrison  and  another  Confederate 
soldier  bearing  a  banner  with  the  inscription  "The  Whites 
^  Will  Rule  the  Land  or  Die."  The  Republicans  realized 
that  they  were  in  a  death  grapple,  and  every  known  means 
of  intimidation  was  employed.  Governor  Russell  had 
issued  a  proclamation  denouncing  the  Red  Shirts  of  Rich- 
mond and  Halifax  counties,  and  ordering  them  to  subside, 
threatening  those  counties  with  martial  law.  This  was 
followed  by  a  great  meeting  at  Rockingham,  at  which 
young  Morrison  denounced  and  defied  Russell  and  his 
threats.  At  the  meeting  on  Saturday  before  the  election, 
Mr.  Morrison  and  Senator  Benjamin  R.  Tillman,  of  South 
Carolina,  made  speeches  that  stirred  the  people  as  they 
had  never  been  stirred  before.  The  county  was  carried 
by  a  majority  of  over  a  thousand. 

A  few  mornings  after  the  election  the  Raleigh  News  and 
Observer  declared  that  "The  spirit  early  manifested  in 
Richmond  County  th'at  the  'whites  would  rule  the  land  or 
die'  spread  to  adjoining  counties,  finally  permeated  the 
whole  east,  carried  thirty  counties,  and  saved  the  State 
for  democracy." 

Cameron  Morrison  aroused  that  spirit  in  Richmond 
County  and  was  one  of  the  unquestioned  leaders  of  the 
movement. 

At  the  same  time  he  was  leading  the  turbulent  fight  in 
Richmond  County,  he  went  from  time  to  time  to  other 
counties  of  the  State  and  spoke  for  white  supremacy  and 
democracy. 

The  State  was  safe.  After  the  election,  a  banquet  was 
given  at  Laurinburg  in  honor  of  Senator  F.  M.  Simmons 
and  Morrison,  respectively  State  and  County  Chairman. 
At  this  banquet,  Senator  Simmons  said  that  "The  first 
real  hope  in  the  campaign  in  the  State  had  been  inspired 


Cameron  Morrison  xxiii 

in  him  by  the  spirit  of  Richmond  County  under  the  splendid 
leadership  of  Cameron  Morrison,  and  that  when  the  history 
of  the  movement  for  white  supremacy  came  to  be  written 
no  man  would  be  given  greater  credit  for  the  victory  than 
Cameron  Morrison."  Later  on  the  people  of  Rockingham 
gave  Mr.  Morrison  a  banquet  in  recognition  of  his  services 
to  the  county. 

When  the  Democratic  county  officers  were  inaugurated 
in  Richmond  County,  Morrison  was  carried  from  office  to 
office  in  the  courthouse  and  made  to  speak  from  a  table 
in  every  office. 

Following  the  victory  in  1898,  the  fight  for  the  consti- 
tutional amendment  was  inaugurated.  There  were  many 
who  doubted  the  wisdom  of  the  movement.  Morrison  was 
one  of  those  who  vigorously  advocated  it.  He  was  one  of 
the  young  men  who  stood  with  Simmons  in  Raleigh  for  weeks 
urging  the  bill  through  the  Legislature. 

Morrison  was  in  the  Senate  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  1901  and  was  Mayor  of  the  Town  of  Rocking- 
ham, and  until  he  became  Governor,  these  were  the  only 
two  offices  he  ever  held. 

Since  the  redemption  of  the  State  from  fusionism, 
Morrison  has  been  in  every  important  party  council  where 
grave  policies  were  considered  and  adopted.  In  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1916,  he  was  Elector  at  large, 
and  canvassed  the  State  for  Woodrow  Wilson  from  Pas- 
quotank to  Swain  at  his  own  expense.  He  has  been 
chairman  of  the  platform  committee  a  greater  number 
of  times  than  any  other  living  North  Carolinian.  He  has 
always  fought  back  all  isms  and  schemes  to  attach  unsound 
policies  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  aided  the  party 
in  adhering  to  a  policy  of  constructive  upbuilding.  He 
has  consistently  and  successfully  fought  to  hold  the  party 
true  to  a  policy  of  education,  health,  good  roads,  protection 
and  encouragement  to  every  legitimate  industry  of  the 
State.  No  man  in  North  Carolina  has  demonstrated  a 
greater  knowledge  of  shaping  the  policies  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  the  State  since  the  defeat  of  fusionism.  In  the 
great  conventions  and  party  councils  he  has  met  in  debate 


xxiv  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

the  strongest  intellects  in  North  Carolina,  and  has  demon- 
strated a  knowledge  of  basic  principles  of  statesmanship 
that  has  enabled  him  to  help  to  lead  the  party  in  the 
adoption  of  wise  policies.  In  the  last  thirty  years  he  has 
made  more  speeches  for  the  Democratic  party  than  any 
other  citizen  in  the  State. 

For  years,  Mr.  Morrison  lived  in  Charlotte  before  being 
elected  Governor,  having  removed  there  for  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  In  Mecklenburg,  as  in  Richmond  County, 
he  has  ranked  among  the  leaders  at  the  bar.  Without 
influence  in  youth,  he  is,  by  wide  reading  and  deep  study, 
a  man  of  culture  and  education.  As  a  lawyer,  he  stands 
among  the  foremost  of  the  profession  in  the  State.  He 
has  appeared  in  many  of  the  most  noted  law  suits  of  his 
time,  and  always  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  his 
cause.  While  not  a  business  man  in  the  usual  acceptance 
of  the  term,  he  has  in  his  professional  career  come  in 
contact  with  all  lines  of  business  activity,  having  been 
employed  as  counselor  and  attorney  for  many  of  the 
most  important  business  organizations  of  the  State.  He 
has  through  his  professional  activities  acquired  a  general 
knowledge  of  the  State's  industries,  and  has  always  been 
absolutely  friendly  to,  and  unprejudiced  against,  any 
industry  in  which  our  people  are  engaged,  and  is  subservient 
to  no  industry  nor  class. 

^It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  other  North  Carolinian  of  the 
day  has  a  more  profound  understanding  of  the  fundamentals 
of  government  than  Morrison.  As  a  political  debater  he 
has  no  superior  in  the  State.  He  is  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
education  in  the  State,  the  protection  of  the  health  of  her 
people,  the  development  of  her  industries  and  the  con- 
struction of  good  roads  and  all  internal  improvements, 
both  for  human  and  material  welfare.  He  has  always 
fostered  and  encouraged  every  legitimate  industry  of  her 
people.  He  has  always  stood  for  a  spirit  of  cooperation 
and  brotherhood  and  against  class  differences,  and  for 
maintaining  in  North  Carolina  that  high  spirit  of  devotion 
to  the  basic  principles  of  Americanism  that  has  ever  been 
one   of  the   State's   most   pronounced   characteristics. 


Cameron  Morrison  ^^^ 

Morrison  knows  the  needs  of  the  people  of  the  State 
as  Yew  men  do.  For  thirty  years  he  has  given  mtelhgent 
study  trpublic  questions.  He  is  a  lawyer  by  profession 
ana  I  Rood  one,  but  the  study  of  the  science  of  g°vernnaent 
has  bein  uppermost  in  his  mind  from  the  time  he  attamed 
his  maTority  until  now.  He  knows  the  people  also  and 
has  Tpent  Tlarge  part  of  his  public  life  in  gomg  about  d.s- 
cussing  the  policies  of  his  party. 

He  has  always  commanded  a  large  and  lucrative  law 
prfcdce  bu  has  spent  his  money  on  other  people,  rather 
practice,  dul  '^r^t^.  „, an  most  capable  of  administering 

S^aT^rT-otlec^ily  the  i^an  who  has  devoted 
Wm  elf  to  his  own   private  fortunes   and   -cumulated   a 
g^at  estate  for  himself;  rather  he  ,s  the  man    who  tt 
Vance  and  Aycock,  is  so^  busy  trying  t° J^e  ter  the  edu 
cational,  social,  and  political  conditions  o    his  State    that 
he  has   neither  the   time   nor  the   inclination   to   make 

fortune  for  himself.  ,        u^  rose  to  this 

Morrison  is  a  plain  man  of  the  people.  He  rose  to  tnis 
orefent  position  of  influence  in  public  affairs  by  his  own 
Sed 'effort.  He  was  not  born  with  ->>ver  spoon  m 
his  mouth,  but  had  a  fierce  struggle,  even  m  his  tender 
t  arT  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door.  He  has  not  for- 
llnl'n  the  pit  whence  he  was  digged.  He  knows  every 
ftep  of  tt  rugged  road  over  which  he  has  trave  ed  His 
sympathy  will  always  be  with  the  man  who  toils  for  his 

'toS:t  is  honest,  candid  and  ^ea^'ess.  He  never 
straddled  a  public  question  in  his  life.  Everybody  know 
where  he  stands.  He  is  square.  He  has  never  learned 
The  art  of  dissimulation.  Whether  an  issue  is  popular 
or  unpopular,  he  takes  his  stand  flat-footed  upon  it  and 
Stands  there  until  he  is  convinced  that  he  is  wrong.  He  is 
a  brave  man,  as  his  record  in  the  past  proves. 

KTs  not  an  extremist,  as  some  of  his  opponents  have 
alleged.  He  is  a  hard  fighter,  but  never  strikes  below  the 
belt'  He  is  generous,  warm-hearted  and  --;---°-; 
His  enemies  are  not  those  he  has  met  in  the  field.     He  does 


XXV  i  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

not  represent  a  class,  but  all  the  citizenship  of  the  State 
which  he  loves  with  passionate  devotion. 

Cameron  Morrison  is  a  veritable  Richard  the  Lion 
Hearted  in  the  political  tournament.  Sitting  in  his  saddle 
with  staunchness  of  the  old  knight  of  ancient  fame,  he 
couches  a  lance  both  strong  and  true. 

This  instance  is  given  by  a  friend  in  the  race  for  Governor 
when  he  eliminated  Honorable  Robert  N.  Page,  his  lifelong 
friend,  in  the  first  primary  in  the  contest  for  Governor, 
and  paid  back  the  friendly  defeat  of  twenty  years  before 
when  Mr.  Page  was  named  to  be  Congressman  by  a  fraction 
of  a  vote  and  Morrison  went  down  in  defeat. 

It  was  on  the  convention  floor  in  that  great  fight  that 
Morrison,  the  defeated  candidate,  arose  and  in  that  mag- 
nificent voice  swept  the  great  convention  off  its  feet  by  his 
declaration:  "My  fellow-citizens,  when  Richard  the  Lion 
Hearted  and  Leopold,  King  of  Austria,  were  seriously 
threatening  the  very  lives  of  their  armies  with  a  personal 
conflict  as  to  which  should  be  commander-in-chief  of  their 
combined  forces,  Richard  said,  'Take  the  command  to- 
morrow, Leopold,  but  may  the  God  of  the  Christian  give 
the  victory  to  him  who  shall  carry  the  banner  furthest 
into  the  ranks  of  the  infidel.'  And  so  I  say  to  Robert  N. 
Page,  take  the  office;  but  may  victory  come  to  him  who 
shall  carry  the  banner  of  democracy  furthest  into  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party." 

For  thirty  years,  Mr.  Morrison  has  waged  the  fight 
for  democracy,  and  whatever  may  have  been  his  mistakes 
neither  friend  nor  foe  has  ever  for  a  moment  had  a  right 
to  doubt  his  genuine  fight,  not  only  for  his  party,  but  for 
his  State.  He  has  been  fair,  while  a  foe,  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  many  of  the  leaders  are  his  warm  personal 
friends. 

This  was  the  character  of  the  man  who  entered  into  that 
memorable  campaign  of  1920  for  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  which,  perhaps  was  the  greatest  primary  contest 
ever  brought  before  the  people  in  this  State.  The  Kitchin- 
Craig  race  for  Governor  was  a  convention  contest.  Mor- 
rison's opponents,  Hon.  Robert  N.  Page  and  Hon.  O.  Max 


Cameron  Morrison  xxvii 

Gardner,  were  men  of  the  highest  character,  abiHty  and 
inteUigence  and  of  powerful  family  connections. 

And  the  stern  joy  which  warriors  feel, 
In  foeman  worthy  of  their  steel. 

Hon.  Robert  N.  Page  had  been  in  Congress  nearly 
twenty  years,  and  had  shortly  before  the  contest  declined 
to  be  a  candidate  for  reelection.  He  is  a  brother  of  the 
late  Walter  Hines  Page,  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain 
during  the  Wilson  administration.  Henry  Page,  another 
brother,  was  Food  Administrator  during  the  World  War. 
Frank  Page,  another  brother,  is  Chairman  of  the  State 
Highway  Commission.  His  family  is  a  remarkable  one 
for  honesty,  intellectuality  and  constructive  policies. 

Hon.  O.  Max  Gardner  was  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
North  Carolina  and  by  his  charm  of  manner  and  likeable 
characteristics  "the  idol  of  the  younger  democracy."  He 
is  a  son-in-law  of  Judge  James  L.  Webb,  of  the  Superior 
Court  bench,  whose  brother  E.  Y.  Webb,  had  been  in 
Congress  some  twenty  years,  and  was  later  appointed 
Junior  United  States  Judge  for  the  Western  District  of 
North  Carolina  by  Woodrow  Wilson.  Clyde  R.  Hoey, 
a  brother-in-law,  was  a  member  of  Congress.  The  State 
has  produced  no  finer,  higher-class,  honorable,  patriotic 
man. 

Morrison  had  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  but  generous 
to  a  fault,  was  without  means.  On  the  6th  day  of  Decem- 
ber 1905,  he  married  Miss  Lottie  May  Tomlinson  (who  was 
born  January  25,  1880),  a  woman  of  great  charm  and 
loveliness.  They  had  one  child,  Angelia — well  named, 
an  angel  child — with  all  the  sweetness  of  her  mother  and 
courage  and  loyalty  of  her  father.  A  great  shock  came 
to  the  entire  State  and  to  the  people  of  Charlotte  when 
Mrs.  Morrison  died  after  a  short  illness  on  the  12th  day  of 
November,  1919.  This  v/as  a  crushing  blow  that  Cameron 
Morrison  received  just  on  the  outlook  of  the  contest. 
The  devotion  of  the  couple  was  as  beautiful  and  their 
married  life  was  as  happy  and  congenial  as  this  earth 
permits.     They  walked   together  in  the  Garden  of  Eden 


xxviii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

of  this  earth.  She  looked  forward  with  pride  to  this  con- 
test. She  was  ambitious  for  him  to  do  great  things  for 
their  beloved  Commonwealth — but  she  was  called  and  he 
left.  He  tarried  for  a  great  purpose — to  carry  out  a  vision 
of  helping  to  make  this  Commonwealth  throw  off  its 
lethargy  and  wake  up  its  giant  strength.  How  often  in 
the  years  that  have  gone  by  has  he  come  to  my  office  and 
I  have  listened  to  his  persuasive  and  convincing  reasoning 
that  this  State  should  be  one  of  the  greatest  on  this  earth. 

Your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams, 
Your  young  men  shall  see  visions. 

He  saw  the  vision  of  a  State  of  God-fearing  people,  a 
climate  unsurpassed,  a  soil  rich.  He  saw  the  need  of  a 
great  University,  Woman's  College,  State  College  for 
Agriculture  and  Engineering.  He  saw  the  needs  for  more 
high  schools  and  schools  to  educate  the  masses,  vocational 
schools.  He  saw  the  need  of  good  hard-surface  and 
dependable  roads  and  the  ports  of  the  eastern  shore  poten- 
tial and  inviting,  closed  to  commerce.  He  saw  the  needs 
of  "those  whom  the  finger  of  God  had  touched" — the 
insane,  the  feeble-minded,  the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  the 
crippled  children,  institutions  for  the  wayward  boys  and 
girls;  the  need  for  schools  for  our  colored  people  and  our 
duty  to  them  and  to  the  afflicted  and  wayward. 

Having  this  vision,  and  with  the  "faith,  so  that  I  could 
remove  mountains,"  handicapped  with  grief,  sick  in  body 
and  heart,  he  never  wavered.  Could  he  arouse  the  State 
and  get  it  to  fulfill  its  mission  .f*  He  had  asked  me  to 
manage  his  campaign,  and  seemed  obsessed  with  that 
idea.  I  was  getting  older  and  I  knew  it  was  a  young 
man's  job.  The  great  issues  to  be  put  over  required  youth, 
strength  and  vigor.  Early  in  April,  1920,  he  made  a 
speech  at  Marion  and  had  caught  cold.  I  heard  that  he 
was  at  home  sick  in  bed  and  went  to  see  him.  I  went  to 
his  sickbed  and  said  "Cam,  I  have  come  to  fulfill  your 
request  and  go  to  Raleigh  to  take  charge  of  your  campaign." 
The  light  of  loyal  thankfulness  shall  always  linger  as  a 
remembrance    of    friendship.     The    convention    met    the 


Cameron  Morrison  xxix 

following  week.  To  forestall  the  opposition  and  give 
courage  to  the  Morrison  forces,  I  went  to  Raleigh  at  once 
and  issued  the  following  statement:  ^ 

"I  have  come  to  Raleigh  to  manage  the  campaign  tor 
Mr  Cameron  Morrison  for  the  Democratic  nominee  lor 
Governor.  I  have  quit  my  business  to  enter  into  this 
arduous  duty  for  a  friend,  a  labor  of  love._  ^ 

-Our  Commonwealth  and  the  Democratic  party  is  to  be 
congratulated  on  having  three  virile,  splendid.  North 
CaroUnians  to  choose  from  to  govern  them-men  of 
character  and  ability— any  one  of  whom,  if  nominated, 
I  will  take  pleasure  in  loyally  supporting. 

"I  believe  that  our  ancient  foe,  the  Republican  party, 
intends  following  the  autocratic  leadership  of  Senator 
Henry  Cabot  Lodge  and  his  like  to  venomously  attack  the 
men  who  have,  under  Democratic  leadership,  carried  to 
successful  conclusion  the  great  World  War;  President 
Woodrow  Wilson  who  held  the  flag  of  the  nation,  and  our 
great  North  Carolinians,  Hon.  Josephus  Daniels,  the  flag 
of  the  navy;  Senator  F.  M.  Simmons,  Chairman  of  the 
Finance  Committee  of  the  Senate;  Senator  Lee  S  Overman, 
Chairman  of  the  Rules  Committee,  and  Claude  Kitchm, 

House  Leader.  . 

"We  had  a  spectacle  of  this  in  the  Republican  convention 
at  Greensboro  in  the  attack  on  the  President  of  our  nation 
-a  sick  man-a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  o^5„."°^\'7- 
At  the  tragic  death  of  our  great  President  Wilhani  Mc- 
Kinley,  I  recall  how  the  hearts  of  those  brave  North 
Carolina  Democrats  went  out  in  sympathy,  and  public 
eulogies  were  held  everywhere.  There  is  one  man  who 
can  best  curb  this  spirit  of  vicious  criticism  and  that  man 

is  Mr.  Morrison.  . 

"I  am  for  Mr.  Morrison,  as  he  does  not  apologize,  min- 
imize or  criticize  the  great  constructive  work  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  under  Mr.  Wilson.  Another  reason,  honestly 
desiring  to  try  out  an  honest  system  of  taxation  and  a  much 
needed  reform,  he  speaks  out  in  the  open,  and  stands  tor 
equitable  taxation,  and  if  not  satisfactory,  amend  the  law  to 
make  revaluation  just  and  righteous.     Mr.  Morrison  holds 


XXX  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

out  no  impossible  hope  for  the  people  and  advocates  the 
passage  of  no  unconstitutional   nor   class   legislation. 

"He  will  stand  with  all  his  eloquence  and  logic  to  sustain 
the  wonderful  constructive  legislation  of  the  Democratic 
party  while  in  power;  the  twelve  regional  banks  over  the 
nation,  enfranchising  the  monetary  system — the  greatest 
system  for  humanity  since  Joseph  established  the  regional 
granaries  in  Egypt.  He  stands  for  the  twelve  farm  loan 
banks  over  the  nation,  giving  the  producer,  the  hope  of  a 
nation,  a  chance  for  home  owning.  He  stands  for  opening 
the  South  Atlantic  ports,  so  that  produce  can  be  shipped  to 
and  from  South  America  and  the  West  Indies  Islands 
without  first  going  through   northern  ports. 

"He  will,  and  has  heretofore,  aided  greatly  in  getting 
better  freight  rates  for  North  Carolina.  He  stands  for 
cooperation  and  mutual  harmony  between  capital  and 
labor,  and  stands  squarely  on  the  Democratic  platform, 
for  the  right  of  labor  to  organize.  He  stands  for  the 
construction  of  a  State  system  of  durable  hard-surface 
highways.  If  he  is  elected  Governor,  he  will  do  his  utmost 
to  inaugurate  a  policy  whereby  the  religious,  moral,  agri- 
cultural, commercial  and  industrial  life  of  the  State  can  be 
developed  by  connecting  the  principal  villages,  towns  and 
cities  with  durable,  all-weather  roads.  He  stands  for 
better  rural  schools,  and  living  conditions  on  the  farm, 
so  that  farm  life,  the  heart  of  a  nation,  will  flourish,  better 
pay  for  teachers,  for  better  health  conditions. 

"He  will  not  forget  those  heroic  men,  the  flower  of  our 
Commonwealth,  who  at  home  and  abroad,  stood  the  test 
and  upheld  the  flag,  and  helped  win  the  World  War. 

"Mr.  Morrison  has  not  spent  his  time  in  office  holding, 
or  office  seeking.  For  thirty  years,  the  Democratic  party 
in  North  Carolina  has  called  on  him  to  canvass  the  State 
in  different  sections,  and  our  citizenship  has  been  aided  by 
his  efforts  in  the  great  human  issues.  He  has,  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  performed  his  duty.  Our  great  Vance 
said  'The  horse  that  pulls  the  plow  should  have  the  fodder.' 
He  could  have  used  his  great  talents  in  obtaining  wealth, 
but  he  has  used  them  to  make  better  conditions  so  that 


Cameron  Morrison  xxxi 

others  could  labor  and  get  their  just  rewards.  In  his 
campaign,  he  will  spend,  if  necessary  to  do  so,  for  legitimate 
purposes  only,  what  the  law  has  fixed,  one  year's  salary  of 
the  Governor.  He  calls  on  the  voters  to  volunteer  in  his 
behalf,  and  I  appeal  to  the  voters  of  this  great  comnion- 
wealth  to  rally  to  his  support.  If  elected,  he  will  go  into 
the  high  oihce  free  and  untrammeled,  with  but  a  single 
purpose,  To  serve  God  and  the  people  of  his  beloved 
State." 

The  slogan  of  the  campaign  was 

From  the  Plowhandle  to  the  Mansion. 

Some  50,000  large  posters  with  his  picture  and  platform 
of  progress  were  placed  at  the  courthouse  in  every  county 
seat  in  the  State,  country  stores  and  every  available  place. 

Morrison  steadily  improved,  but  was  weak  in  body, 
but  strong  in  courage  during  the  convention.  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Gardner's  brother-in-law,  the  distinguished  Con- 
gressman, Clyde  R.  Hoey,  made  the  keynote  speech. 
After  the  convention,  the  contest  started  in  earnest.  All 
three  of  the  candidates  campaigned  the  State.  Governor 
Morrison  has  frequently  remarked  that  I  said  to  him 
"Cam,  I  am  going  to  help  make  you  Governor  of  North 
Carolina  or  kill  you,"  and  I  came  near  doing  both.  But 
the  manager  had  known  the  mettle  of  the  racer  for  thirty 
years,  and  knew  he  had  a  thoroughbred  on  the  race  track. 
During  the  contest,  in  ninety  days,  he  had  campaigned 
the  entire  State,  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea,  and  made 
103  set  speeches,  besides  numerous  side  ones.  In  the 
first  primary,  June  3,  1920,  Mr.  Page  was  eliminated 
and  Mr.  Morrison  had  a  plurality  of  87  votes  over  the 
gallant  Gardner.  Then  the  battle  of  ballots  was  waged 
perhaps  as  never  before  in  this  Commonwealth;  the  con- 
structive issues  were  great,  and  on  July  3,  the  final  primary, 
he  had  won  by  9,259  majority.  He  made  his  last  speech 
in  Raleigh  the  night  before  the  primary,  July  2,  1920. 
It  was  in  the  Academy  of  Music.  The  place  was  packed 
with  men  and  women  representing  every  walk  of  life. 
As   we   went   towards   the   stage,    accompanied   by   Judge 


xxxii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

James  S.  Manning,  W.  F.  Evans,  P.  C.  Whitlock,  and 
others,  the  audience  rose  and  cheered  and  shouted.  The 
band  played  "Dixie."  I  have  never  seen  anything  Hke  it 
and  never  expect  to.  His  speech  was  great,  but  when  he 
said  "If  tonight  I  did  not  stand  by  and  defend  my  old 
daddy  I  would  not  be  fit  to  be  Governor  of  this  great 
commonwealth,"  pandemonium  of  approval  broke  loose. 
His  father,  a  gallant  Confederate  soldier,  after  the  war 
for  a  while  a  Republican,  came  back  to  the  Democratic 
party  and  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Richmond  County  as  a 
Democrat.  He  campaigned  the  State  for  the  Democratic 
party  after  his  nomination  by  the  primary,  notwithstanding 
his  strenuous  campaign  for  the  nomination,  with  the 
loyal  aid  of  his  former  competitors,  Lieutenant-Governor 
O.  Max  Gardner  and  Hon.  Robert  N.  Page  and  their 
followers  and  a  host  of  militant  Democrats.  The  State 
was  carried  for  the  Democratic  party  by  78,016,  the  largest 
majority  up  to  that  time  in  the  history  of  the  State.  His 
inaugural  address  was  a  repetition  of  the  vision  of  his 
uplifting  movement — the  platform  he  had  won  on  in  his 
primary  nomination.  The  deflated  period  of  1920  set  in, 
a  time  ever  to  be  remembered,  yet  he  never  faltered  but 
stood  by  his  pledges.  The  road  bond  money  and  also 
building  expenditures  helped  to  save  the  State  from  deflated 
wreck.  Few  public  officials  have  been  able  to  so  fully 
carry  out  their  pledges.  This  was  due  to  a  great  people. 
Our  law  is  founded  on  the  consent  of  the  governed.  The 
people's  will  is  expressed  through  their  officials. 

In  my  decision  to  take  charge  of  the  Governor's  cam- 
paign, I  shall  never  forget  the  loyalty  to  Governor  Morrison 
of  Mr.  Wade  H.  Harris,  Editor  of  the  Charlotte  Observer, 
from  youth  until  now  a  great  constructive  upbuilder  of  this 
commonwealth.  He  was  insistent  at  all  times  that  I 
should  manage  the  campaign.  The  Charlotte  Observer  was 
a  tower  of  strength.  Many  other  papers  did  valiant 
service — the  Charlotte  Evening  News,  Asheville  Citizen, 
Winston-Salem  Journal,  Durham  Herald,  Wilmington  Star, 
etc.  Other  papers  that  were  neutral,  were  fair  and  just — 
the  News  and  Observer,  Greensboro  Daily  News,  etc.     Many 


Cameron  Morrison  xxxiii 

of  the  State's  leading  citizens  spoke  in  the  primary  in  his 
behalf.  I  mention  a  few,  taken  mostly  from  his  home  city, 
to  show  the  type  of  men  who  took  part  in  the  contest: 
Frank  R.  McNinch,  Thos.  C.  Guthrie,  E.  T.  Cansler, 
J.  D.  McCall,  E.  R.  Preston,  T.  L.  Kirkpatrick,  W.  C.  Dowd, 
D.  B.  Smith,  J.  Frank  Flowers,  J.  Lawrence  Jones,  T.  A. 
Adams,  P.  C.  Whitlock,  Jas.  F.  Barrett,  Will  Weill,  Dr.  I.  W. 
Faison  and  others  of  Charlotte;  W.  A.  Hart  of  Tarboro, 
W.  N.  Everett,  Rockingham,  Willis  J.  Brogden,  Gilbert  C. 
White,  Durham,  Jas.  A.  Lockhart  of  Wadesboro  (now  of 
Charlotte),  W.  A.  Finch  of  Wilson,  J.  Bayard  Clark  of 
Fayetteville,  Chas.  A.  Webb,  of  Asheville,  A.  M.  Scales, 
R.  W.  H.  Stone  of  Greensboro,  Col.  John  D.  Langston  of 
Goldsboro,  J.  W.  Bailey,  W.  F.  Evans  and  J.  F.  McMahon 
of  Raleigh.  Many  of  the  State's  greatest  ministers, 
lawyers,  newspapermen,  bankers,  business  men,  farmers, 
doctors,  merchants,  mechanics,  realtors,  mill  owners  and 
operatives  and  men  in  all  walks  of  life  entered  into  this 
great  constructive  contest.  His  valiant  supporters  and 
followers  were  "all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men" — all 
classes. 

The  Legislatures  of  1921  and  1923  had  the  vision  of 
great  constructive  work  which  stood  for  the  betterment 
of  this  great  commonwealth.  The  first  piece  of  great 
constructive  work  was  carrying  out  the  vision  of  a  State 
road  system.  Public  Laws,  1921,  Chap.  2.  The  caption 
of  this  act  is  as  follows:  "An  Act  to  Provide  for  the  Con- 
struction and  Maintenance  of  a  State  System  of  Hard- 
surfaced  and  Other  Dependable  Roads  Connecting  by 
the  Most  Practicable  Routes  the  Various  County  Seats 
and  Other  Principal  Towns  of  Every  County  in  the  State 
for  the  Development  of  Agriculture,  Commercial  and 
Industrial  Interests  of  the  State,  and  to  Secure  Benefits 
of  Federal  Aid  Therefor,  and  for  Other  Purposes." 

On  March  17,  1920,  at  North  Wilkesboro,  he  made  his 
famous  good  roads  speech.     I  quote  part: 

"I  favor  a  robust  good  roads  policy,  and  I  declare  to  the 
Democrats  and  people  of  North  Carolina,  that  if  I  am 
elected  Governor  of  the  State,  I  will  use  every  faculty  I 


xxxlv  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

possess  to  help  put  a  policy  through  the  General  Assembly 
which  will  result  in  the  speedy  construction  of  a  great 
system  of  highways,  worthy  of  North  Carolina,  the  most 
progressive   state  in  this   republic." 

As  given  by  Hon.  Frank  Page,  the  efficient  Chairman  of 
the  State  Highway  Commission,  the  status  of  this  system 
on  October  3,  1924,  was  as  follows: 

"There  are  6,200  miles  of  road  in  the  State  highway 
system,  and  we  are  maintaining  approximately  6,000  miles. 
We  have  in  the  State  system  1,700  miles  of  hard-surfaced 
roads,  and  about  3,700  miles  of  other  dependable  types. 
The  total  average  cost  of  maintenance  of  all  types  of 
roads  in  North  Carolina  ending  July  1,  1924,  was  3544.96 
per  mile.  Of  course,  this  varies  very  much,  depending 
upon  the  amount  of  traffic  on  each  road,  and  also  the  type 
of  surfacing  on  the  road;  but  the  above  figure  is  an  average 
of  the  cost.  We  have  completed  under  the  bond  issues 
to  July  1,  1924,  2,806  miles,  and  under  construction  on  the 
above  mentioned  date  1,122  miles." 

The  Legislature  authorized  bond  issues  of  365,000,000 
to  build  and  construct  this  State  highway  system:  in  1921, 
350,000,000;  in  1923,  315,000,000.  The  rate  of  interest 
on  the  bonds  could  not  exceed  5  per  cent.  For  the  present 
fiscal  year  it  is  estimated  the  State  will  collect  about 
310,200,000  from  automobile  and  gasoline  tax  (tax  on 
gasoline  4  cents  a  gallon).  This  revenue  will  be  sufficient 
to  pay  the  interest  on  the  State  highway  road  bonds,  the 
maintenance  of  the  State  roads,  the  upkeep  of  the  State 
Highway  Commission,  a  sinking  fund  to  retire  the  bonds, 
and  a  surplus  of  about  33,000,000.  There  is  no  tax  on 
land.  The  automobile  and  gasoline  tax  carries  the  entire 
burden  at  the  present  time. 

To  finance  this  system,  the  acts  provide  for  the  issuance 
of  serial  bonds  of  the  State,  payable  in  not  less  than  ten 
nor  more  than  forty  years  from  the  date  of  issue — one- 
thirtieth  paid  each  year— a  broad  building  and  loan  plan. 
To  protect  the  sinking  fund  the  following  constitutional 
amendment  was  adopted  at  the  General  Election  of  1924: 


Cameron  Morrison  xxxv 

The  General  Assembly  shall  not  use  nor  authorize  to  be  used  any 
part  of  the  amount  of  any  sinking  fund  for  any  purpose  other  than  the 
retirement  of  the  bonds  for  which  said  sinking  fund  has  been  created. 

To  limit  State  Indebtedness  the  following  constitutional 
amendment  was  adopted  at  the  General  Election  of  1924: 

Except  for  the  refunding  of  valid  bonded  debt,  and  except  to  supply  a 
casual  deficit,  or  for  suppressing  invasions  or  insurrections,  the  General 
Assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  contract  any  new  debt  or  pecuniary 
obligation  in  behalf  of  the  State  to  an  amount  exceeding  in  the  aggregate, 
including  the  then  existing  debt  recognized  by  the  State,  and  deducting 
sinking  funds  then  on  hand,  and  the  par  value  of  the  stock  in  the  North 
Carolina  Railroad  Company  and  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina 
Railroad  Company  owned  by  the  State,  seven  and  one-half  per  cent  of 
the  assessed  valuation  of  taxable  property  within  the  State  as  last 
fixed  for  taxation. 

In  the  road  program  that  he  pledged  the  people  he 
would  Inaugurate,  many  good  roads  enthusiasts  played  an 
important  part.  Col.  T.  L.  Kirkpatrick,  of  Charlotte, 
President  of  the  Wilmington-Asheville-Charlotte  Highway, 
and  President  of  the  Citizens  Highway  Association,  had 
fought,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  for  a  hard-surfaced 
and  dependable  system  and  with  the  vision  always  to 
start  at  350,000,000.  Miss  Harriet  M.  Berry,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  North  Carolina  Good  Roads  Associa- 
tion, through  long  years  of  hard  work  had  helped  to  educate 
the  people  up  to  the  wisdom  and  necessity.  Hon.  Frank 
Page  had  been  gradually  working  towards  the  end.  The 
State  system  of  good  roads  had  been  aided  much  by  him, 
then  chairman,  appointed  by  Governor  T.  W.  Bickett. 
Both  Governors  Locke  Craig  and  T.  W.  Bickett  had  the 
vision  of  a  State  system.  Col.  Bennehan  Cameron,  E.  R. 
Preston,  Col.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  others  had  been 
working  for  years  for  good  roads.  Senator  F.  M.  Simmons 
fifteen  years  ago  procured  the  adoption  by  Congress  of 
the  item  in  a  Post  Office  Appropriation  Bill  which  first 
committed  the  Federal  government  to  the  policy  of  co- 
operation with  the  states  in  the  construction  of  good  roads. 
This  was  the  initial  National  legislation  that  has  since 
become  so  popular  and  effective.     The  Citizens  Highway 


xxxvi  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

Association,  in  conjunction  with  the  North  Carolina  Good 
Roads  Association,  appointed  a  committee  of  leading 
good-road  advocates  in  the  State,  and  they  in  turn  appointed 
a  sub-committee  of  Heriot  Clarkson,  Chairman,  Miss 
Harriet  M.  Berry,  John  Sprunt  Hill,  Dr.  L.  B.  Morse 
and  W.  A.  McGirt,  who  drafted  a  bill.  One  thousand 
copies  of  this  bill  were  printed  and  distributed  to  aid  the 
incoming  Legislature  and  the  frontispiece  was  as  follows: 

North   Carolina  Good  Roads  Association — Suggested  Bill: 

To  provide  for  the  construction  and  maintenance  of  a  State  system  of 
hard-surfaced  and  other  dependable  highways,  together  with  map, 
outlining  suggested  construction  districts  for  an  equitable  distribution 
of  construction  funds. 

An  easy  method  was  provided  to  take  over  the  roads 
for  the  State  system,  running  from  county  seat  to  county 
seat  and  principal  towns  and  State  institutions,  etc.  A 
map  showing  the  roads  to  be  taken  over  was  attached 
to  the  bill  and  made  a  part  thereof.  The  State  Highway 
Commission  posted  a  map  of  the  proposed  roads  to  be  taken 
for  the  State,  at  county  courthouse  doors  in  each  county  in 
the  State,  and  gave  notice  to  the  road  governing  bodies  in 
each  county  and  city  and  if  no  objection  or  protest  was 
made  in  sixty  days  they  became  part  of  the  State  system 
and  county  seats,  principal  towns  or  State  institutions, 
etc.,  could  not  be  disconnected.  Upon  objection  to  taking 
over  the  roads  the  matter  was  heard  by  the  entire  State 
Highway  Commission.  The  bill  requires  the  State  High- 
way Commission  within  sixty  days  after  the  ratification  of 
the  act,  to  commence  assuming  control  of  the  State  roads  by 
giving  notice.  At  the  present  time  6,200  miles  have  been 
taken  over  and  comprise  the  State  system.  Under  the 
system,  the  bond  money  is  equitably  distributed  all  over 
the  State.  The  State  was  divided  into  nine  construction 
districts  with  nine  highway  commissioners — one  from  each 
district,  and  a  chairman  who  heads  the  commission.  The 
money  is  distributed  as  follows:  The  area  of  land  in  a 
particular  district  to  the  total  area  of  land  in  the  State,  the 
mileage  of  State  roads  in  the  district  to  the  total  mileage 


Cameron  Morrison  xxxvil 

of  roads  taken  over  in  the  State  and  the  population  in  the 
district  to  the  population  in  the  entire  State.  By  this 
method  each  district  has  its  equitable  and  proportionate 
part  of  the  funds  spent  in  the  district,  with  no  favoritism 
to  any  section  of  the  State.  Those  counties  that  had 
heretofore  hard  surfaced  a  great  many  of  their  roads,  at 
their  own  expense,  turned  these  hard-surfaced  roads  over 
to  the  State  systemi  without  cost.  The  vote  in  the  State 
is  about  two  to  one  in  respect  to  Democrats  and  Republi- 
cans, and  the  bill  provided  that  there  should  be  six  Demo- 
crats and  three  Republicans. 

By  the  present  road  system,  it  has  been  made  possible 
to  have  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  State  hard 
surfaced  and  dependable  roads,  and  anywhere  in  North 
Carolina,  whether  in  the  mountains  of  the  West  or  the 
swamps  of  the  East,  the  roads  are  built  the  same  as  if  in 
the  populous  sections  of  the  State,  and  kept  up  and  main- 
tained by  the  State.  The  State  as  a  unit  is  the  goal  in  road 
building  and  the  old  local  county  system  is  a  thing  of  the 
past  as  far  as  State  roads  are  concerned.  The  bill  gives 
"equal  rights  to  all  and  special  privileges  to  none."  The 
butter  is  spread  all  over  the  bread.  Each  district  has  an 
engineer  and  the  central  ofhce  is  located  in  Raleigh  and  any 
disputes  over  roads  are  heard  by  the  entire  Commission 
as  an  appellate  body.  The  material  is  all  tested  and  every 
precaution  taken  by  the  Raleigh  oihce  to  see  that  the 
State  gets  full  value  for  money  expended.  The  entire 
system  has  central  and  district  work  shops — all  the  roads 
have  patrolmen  with  efficient  forces  to  keep  up  and  main- 
tain  the   roads. 

The  salient  features  of  this  bill  became  the  Doughton- 
Connor-Bowie  Bill.  The  Good  Roads  Committee  bill 
only  provided  for  ^20,000,000  bond  issue  and  an  automobile 
license  and  gasoline  tax  of  one  cent  on  the  gallon,  also  an 
ad  valorem  tax  of  5  cents  on  3100,  but  the  Governor  in  his 
campaign  had  pledged  the  people  of  the  State  that  he 
would  not  levy  a  land  tax.  This  feature  of  the  bill  was 
eliminated  by  him.  He  was  insistent  that  the  bond 
issue  was  too  small  and  suggested  ^50,000,000  or  365,000,000 


xxxviii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

that  the  system  could  be  built  sooner  than  ten  years — the 
idea  of  the  Good  Roads  Committee  was  that  it  would  take 
that  length  of  time.  His  determined  views  prevailed. 
The  consequence  is  that  the  State  has  the  best  composite 
road  bill  and  system  in  the  nation — sane  and  sensible. 

For  this  great  constructive  work,  the  Governor  appointed 
a  remarkable  commission  of  three  Republicans,  according 
to  the  Act,  and  six  Democrats.  The  Chairman,  a  Demo- 
crat, was  named  in  the  bill.  No  men  have  given  more 
patriotic  service  to  the  State.  The  Commission  is  com- 
posed of: 

Frank  Page,  Chairman  J.  Elwood  Cox 

C.  R.  Wheatley  W.  C.  Wilkinson 

J.  G.  Stikeleather  A.  S.  Hanes 

W.  A.  Hart  A.  M.  Kistler 

W.  A.  McGirt  John  Sprunt  Hill 

J.  C.  McBee  resigned  and  A.  M.  Kistler  succeeded  him. 
R.  A.  Doughton  resigned  and  A.  S.  Hanes  succeeded  him. 
J.  E.  Cameron  resigned  and  C.  R.  Wheatley  succeeded 
him.  The  Commission  selected  Charles  M.  Upham  State 
highway  engineer,  a  man  of  experience  and  capability. 
It  was  he  who  built  the  famous  Du  Pont  Road  across  the 
State  of  Delaware. 

The  taxing  system  of  the  State  that  he  has  helped  inaugu- 
rate is  remarkable  for  its  justice  and  simplicity.  No  land 
is  directly  assessed  for  tax  for  State  purposes.  All  land  tax 
is  exclusively  levied  in  the  respective  counties  and  munici- 
palities and  used  for  county  and  municipal  purposes.  The 
burden  of  the  State  government  is  borne  by  taxes  on  in- 
comes, inheritance,  insurance,  franchises,  corporation  license 
tax  and  departmental  revenues  (except  automobile  and 
gasoline),  etc.  This  State  tax  is  used  to  keep  up  the 
State  government,  annual  appropriations  for  the  Univer- 
sity, the  Woman's  College,  State  College,  institutions  for 
the  insane,  deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  feeble-minded.  State 
Tubercular  Sanatorium,  Jackson  Training  School  for  way- 
ward boys.  Eastern  Carolina  Industrial  Training  School 
for   wayward    boys,    and    Samarcand    for    wayward    [girls, 


Cameron  Morrison  xxxix 

Orthopedic  hospital  for  crippled  children,  health  and 
welfare  work,  etc.,  Eastern  Carolina  Teachers  College, 
Appalachian  Normal  School,  Cullowhee  Normal  School, 
Negro  Agricultural  and  Technical  College,  Negro  Normal 
Schools,  Reformatory  for  delinquent  negro  boys  and 
State   institutions    for   afflicted    negroes. 

During  his  administration  some  of  the  noteworthy  con- 
structive things   done,   other  than  road   system,   are: 

Banking  Laws  made  more  stringent.  Public  Laws  1921, 
Chap.  4,  and  amendments.  Consolidated  Statutes,  Vol. 
Ill,  Chap.  5.  It  is  therein  provided  that  every  bank  shall 
at  all  times  have  on  hand  or  on  deposit  with  approved 
reserve  depositories,  instantly  available  funds  in  an  amount 
equal  to  at  least  fifteen  per  cent  of  the  aggregate  amount 
of  its  demand  deposits,  and  five  per  cent  of  the  aggregate 
amount  of  its  time  deposits. 

The  adoption  of  the  county-wide  school  plan  and  the 
school  laws  codified.  Laws  1923,  Chap  136:  "An  Act  to 
amend  and  consolidate  statutes  and  to  codify  the  laws 
relating  to  public  schools."  Laws  1923,  Chap.  260:  "An 
Act  to  aid  needy  orphan  children  in  the  homes  of  worthy 
mothers" — a  most  humane  and  common  sense  act.  Fifty 
thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  to  be  apportioned  among 
the  counties  on  a  per  capita  basis. 

The  passage  of  "An  Act  to  make  the  State  law  conform 
to  the  National  law  in  relation  to  intoxicating  liquors," 
known  as  the  "Turhngton  Act,"  Public  Laws  1923,  Chap.  1; 
"An  Act  to  create  and  maintain  a  Training  School  for 
delinquent  negro  boys,"  Public  Laws  1921,  Chap.  190. 
Four  hundred  acres  of  land  have  been  purchased  in  Rich- 
mond County,  the  buildings  completed.  The  institution  is 
named  after  Governor  Morrison  and  has  been  opened, 
and  now  cares  for  about  sixty  boys.  Fish  hatcheries  have 
been  and  are  being  established  all  over  the  State,  the 
streams  being  stocked  with  fish  for  food.  Millions  of 
oysters  have  been  planted  and  oyster  beds  established,  and 
the  industry  encouraged.  When  he  became  Governor, 
after  the  World  War  period,  the  institutions  of  the  State 
were  in  great  need  of  repair,  enlargement  and  permanent 


xl  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

improvements.  By  Public  Laws  1921,  Chap.  105,  "An 
Act  to  issue  bonds  of  the  State  for  the  permanent  improve- 
ment and  enlargement  of  the  State's  educational  and 
charitable  institutions,"  $6,745,000  was  authorized;  and 
the  Act  provides  what  institutions  of  the  State,  amount 
to  each,  and  what  repair  and  improvement  in  minute 
detail  that  the  money  is  to  be  used  for.  Public  Laws 
1923,  Chap.  163  (Chap.  164),  is  a  similar  Act,  and  provides 
for  310,667,500.  By  Pubhc  Laws  1921,  Chap.  147,  "An 
Act  to  provide  a  special  building  fund  to  be  loaned  to  County 
Boards  of  Education  to  aid  in  erecting  school  houses," 
$5,000,000  was  authorized.  Under  Chapter  136,  Laws 
1923,  an  additional  $5,000,000  was  authorized.  By 
Chapter  141,  Laws  1923,  "An  Act  to  provide  an  equalization 
fund  for  certain  counties,"  the  sum  of  $1,250,000  was  pro- 
vided to  be  distributed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education  to 
aid  the  weaker  counties. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 
TOTAL  INCREASE  OVER  A  FOUR-YEAR  PERIOD 

1920  1924  Increase 

1.  Value  school 

property 324,057,838.00  360,514,130.00  336,456,292.00 

2.  School  expenditures  12,214,250.00  29,747,076.00  17,532,826.00 

3.  Per  capita  cost....  17.67  37.51  19.84 

4.  Teachers  employed  16,854  21,403  4,544 

5.  School  enrollment.  691,249  793,406  101,797 

6.  High  school  enroll- 
ment (White) ....  29,294  67,707  38,413 

7.  High  school  grad- 

uates(White) 2,999  7,023  4,024 

8.  Rural  schools,  days 

(White) 126.4  136.2  9.8 

9.  Rural  schools,  days 

(Colored) 118.3  122.8  4.5 

In  the  last  four  years  our  school  teachers  have  increased 
from  16,854  to  21,403.     Of  these  5,037  were  negro  teachers. 

In  1920,  in  the  tuberculosis  sanatorium  and  other  chari- 
table institutions  of  the  State,  we  cared  for  5,142.  In 
1924  to  July  1,  we  cared  for  6,489 — an  increase  of  1,347. 


Cameron  Morrison  xli 

In  the  State  educational  schools— the  University,  State 
College,  North  Carolina  College  for  Women,  and  others, 
including  the  negro  schools,  we  had  in  1920,  9,826  students; 
and  in  1924,  13,864.  In  the  charitable  institutions  of  our 
gtate— deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  crippled  children,  tuberculosis 
hospital,  Oxford  Orphan  Asylum,  wayward  boys  and  girls, 
and  others— we  spent  in  1920,  31,217,270;  and  in  1924, 
31,985,142,  the  year  ending  June  30.  The  Stonewall 
Jackson  Training  School  in  1920  cared  for  130  boys,  and 
in  1924  it  cared  for  345  boys,  (now  407)  giving  them  a 
chance  to  come  back.  All  this  has  been  done  without  a 
cent  of  tax  on  real  property. 

There  was  appropriated  for  buildings  and  improvements 
for  the  several  institutions,  including  higher  education,  for 
1917-1918,  33,162,000;  and  for  1919-1920,  31,096,000; 
making  a  total  for  the  four  years,  34,258,000. 

The  appropriation  for  supporting  benevolent  and  edu- 
cational institutions  for  1917-1918  was  33,037,508;  and 
for  1919-1920,  34,338,308;  making  a  total  for  the  four 
years,  for  both  improvement  and  support,  37,375,816. 

There  was  appropriated  for  buildings  and  the  several 
institutions,  including  higher  education  for  1921-1922, 
36,745,000;  and  for  1923-1924,  310,763,500;  making  a 
total  for  four  years  of  317,508,500. 

The  maintenance  appropriation  for  1921  and  1922  was 
36,917,400;  and  for  1923-1924,  39,292,800;  making  a  total 
for  four  years  of  316,210,200;  being  a  total  for  the  four 
years  for  both  improvement  and  support  of  333,718,700. 

Under  the  laws  of  1921  the  State  relinquished  to  the 
counties  the  State  public  school  taxes  that  had  been  paid 
to  the  State  and  returned  upon  a  fixed  basis,  and  in  addition 
appropriated  from  the  funds  of  the  State  31,250,000  for 
1921-1922,  and  in  addition  371,000,  to  cover  deficits 
accruing  in  1919-1920  in  school  taxes;  and  in  1923  increased 
this  appropriation  to  32,031,750;  making  a  total  of  $7,273,- 
500  for  four  years. 

The  pension  appropriation  was  increased  in  1921  from 
3650,000    to    31,000,000,    making    an    annual    increase    of 


xlii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

3350,000,  or  a  total  increase  in  the  four  years  of  ^1,400,000 
to  the  Confederate  soldiers  and  widows. 

A  loan  fund  of  ^10,000,000  in  the  past  four  years  was 
provided  for  building  public  schoolhouses  upon  a  low  rate 
of  interest,  which  has  resulted  in  the  construction  of  not 
less  than  200  up-to-date  first-class  schoolhouses. 

From  the  317,500,000  improvement  appropriation  for 
the  past  four  years  to  the  institutions  and  for  higher 
education  there  were  constructed  196  buildings;  repaired 
and  rehabilitated,  87  buildings;  purchased,  1,612  acres  of 
land,  and  used  31,470,000  in  furnishings  and  equipment. 

1920-21     1923-24  Increase 

Number  Students  at  University 1,541  2,295  754 

Number  Students  at  N.   C.   Col.  for 

Women 784  1,433  649 

Number  Students  at  A.  &  E.  College.  .  .  750  967  217 
Number  Students  at  A.  &  T.  College  for 

Negroes 401  526  125 

Number  Buildings  at  University 26  39  13 

Number  Buildings  at  N.  C.  Col.  for 

Women 20  42  22 

Number  Buildings  at  A.  &  E.  College...  22  28  6 
Number  Buildings  at  A.  &  T.  College  for 

Negroes 11  17  6 

Total  Public  School  buildings 7,901  7,360  *541 

Number  High  School  buildings 436  738  302 

This  State  is  performing  its  sacred  duty  to  the  poor, 
unfortunate  and  orphans,  as  becomes  a  civilized  and 
Christian  State,  looking  after  the  human  as  well  as  the 
material.  The  Duke  Foundation,  made  during  Governor 
Morrison's  administration,  a  gift  of  340,000,000,  in  the 
power  plants  of  the  Carolinas,  go  for  all  time  and  the  in- 
crease to  Duke  University,  formerly  Trinity  College,  and 
other  educational  and  charitable  institutions  in  North 
and  South  Carolina. 

North  Carolina  has,  perhaps,  the  best  and  most  efficient 
Health  Department  in  the  Nation.  Last  year  the  death 
rate   was    12   per   thousand. 


*Decrease  due  to  consolidation  of  small  schools  into  larger  types  of  schools. 


Cameron  Morrison  xliii 

Governor  Morrison  has  administered  the  law  fearlessly. 
There  has  been  no  lynching  in  the  State  save  one  a  few 
days  after  he  became  Governor.  The  pardoning  power 
has  been  carefully,  but  mercifully  administered.  Great 
strides  have  been  made  in  prison  reform.  He  has  seen  to 
it  that  at  all  times  the  law  must  take  its  course  to  protect 
the  white  and  negro,  rich  and  poor,  that  law  and  order, 
orderly  government,  shall  prevail. 

In  the  sale  of  the  State  bonds  he,  with  the  coopera- 
tion of  the  State  Treasurer,  B.  R.  Lacy,  has  been  most 
successful  in  making  most  advantageous  terms  for  the 
State.  It  is  with  pride  that  in  the  expenditure  of  this 
large  sum  of  money  for  the  State's  betterment  and  uplift, 
the  checking  up  of  the  Treasurer  and  his  efficient  Chief 
Clerk,  W.  F.  Moody,  and  the  assistants,  it  was  found  that 
every  copper  was  accounted  for. 

It  will  be  noted  that  in  his  primary  platform  a  pledge  is 
as  follows:  "He  stands  for  opening  the  South  Atlantic  ports, 
so  that  produce  can  be  shipped  to  and  from  South  America 
and  the  West  Indies  Islands  without  first  going  through 
northern  ports.  He  will,  and  has  heretofore,  aided  greatly 
in  getting  better  freight  rates  for  North  Carolina."  The 
method  of  fulfilling  that  pledge  was  not  set  forth.  He 
initated  the  idea  of  terminals  and  ships. 

The  Ship  and  Transportation  Commission  was  authorized 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  Public  Laws, 
1923,  Chapter  94.  The  Commission  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Morrison  consisted  of  the  following  leading  and 
distinguished  business  and  professional  men: 

R.  M.  Miller,  Chairman  J.  Y.  Joyner 

D.  D.  Carroll,  Secretary  A.  M.  Scales 

Emmett  H.  Bellamy  Charles  E.  Waddell 

Joseph  A.  Brown  Charles  S.  Wallace 
W.  A.  Hart 

The  Commission  made  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  entire 
matter  and  on  May  25,  1924,  made  the  following  recom- 
mendation: 

"That  the  General  Assembly  create  a  Port  Commission 
of  five  members,  vested  with  full  authority  to  select  sites, 


xllv  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

construct  port  terminals  with  all  necessary  equipment,  and 
that  the  said  Port  Commission  be  given  full  power  to 
establish  a  traffic  organization,  to  enter  and  prosecute 
complaints,  either  through  the  Corporation  Commission  or 
otherwise,  in  connection  with  rates  and  traffic  regulations, 
and  to  do  all  things  necessary  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of 
its  creation  and  to  bring  relief  in  freight  and  traffic  matters 
to  the  citizens  of  the.  State. 

"That  37,000,000  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  said 
Port  Commission,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary, 
for  the  purposes  enumerated  above. 

"That  the  Port  Commission  be  authorized  to  purchase 
or  lease  ships  and  operate  the  same,  if  in  its  opinion  adequate 
shipping  is  not  provided  by  private  enterprise,  and  that 
31,500,000  additional  be  appropriated  for  this  purpose, 
or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary." 

The  Governor,  with  the  approval  of  the  Council  of  State, 
called  the  Legislature  together  to  meet  August  7.  They 
submitted  the  matter  to  the  people  at  the  November 
election,  1924.  The  measure  was  defeated  at  the  polls 
although  it  received  an  affirmative  vote  of  126,820.  He 
fulfilled  his  primary  pledge  and  kept  the  "whiteness  of  his 
soul."  Many  believed  it  to  be  a  better  program  for  the 
State's  uplift  and  material  welfare  than  the  good  roads 
program.  It  was  contended  that  it  would  lessen  freight 
rates  and  create  wealth  and  build  up  the  whole  State  and 
open  up  for  commerce  eastern  North  Carolina.  He  threw 
his  whole  heart  and  soul  in  this  contest  like  a  patriot,  and 
campaigned  the  State.  The  Governor  has  a  keen  sense  of 
humor:  When  a  large  and  powerful  group  were  pressing 
him  hard  in  their  efforts  to  defeat  the  Port  Terminal  and 
Water  Transportation  Bill,  he  said  that  this  group  was  as 
competent  to  advise  the  people  of  North  Carolina  "as  a 
fox  to  tell  the  chickens  where  to  roost."  General  Albert 
Cox,  a  prince  among  men,  managed  the  Port  Bill  Campaign 
with  great  credit  and  patriotism. 

No  Governor  in  the  history  of  the  State  has  had  so 
many  important  offices  to  fill.  His  term  is  ended  and 
during  his  official  life  as  Governor  the  greatest  constructive 


Cameron  Morrison  xlv 

work  has  been  done  since  North  Carolina  was  a  State. 
This  could  not  have  been  accomplished  without  a  great 
people  speaking  through  its' Governor  and  the  remarkable 
Legislatures  during  the  period  backing  the  program. 

Many  magnificient  receptions  have  been  given  at  the 
Mansion.  The  Lady  of  the  Mansion  during  most  of  his 
term  was  his  sister,  Miss  Ida  Morrison,  until  his  recent 
marriage.  A  brilHant  reception  was  given  in  the  Mansion 
in  October,  1923,  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  Lochiel  to 
North  CaroHna.  Lochiel  (Colonel  Donald  W.  Cameron) 
was  accompanied  by  his  wife.  Lady  Hermione  Cameron, 
who  was  a  Graham  of  Scotland  (daughter  of  Duke  of 
Montrose).  In  all  the  qualifications  of  efficiency,  kindness 
and  hospitality.  Miss  Morrison  has  proved  herself  equal  to 
her  great  brother  in  her  position  in  life.  Recently  his 
friends  have  rejoiced  in  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Virginia 
Watts,  which  took  place  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1924,  in  her 
beautiful  home  in  Durham,  surrounded  by  a  few  close 
personal  friends.  Mrs.  Morrison  before  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  George  W.  Watts,  was  Miss  Sarah  Virginia  Ecker,  of 
Belle  Isle,  N.  Y.  She  is  a  woman  of  great  charity  and 
benevolence.  Pleasing  in  personality  and  a  universal 
favorite. 

None  knows  her  but  to  love  her, 
None  names  her  but  to  praise. 

His  life  has  been  one  of  continued  service  and  sacrifice 
for  this  Commonwealth  and  others.  How  often  he  has 
stood  in  great  audiences  and  appealed  to  those  present  to 
recollect  that  what  they  had,  it  was  in  trust  for  "God  and 
humanity."  He  has  made  his  impression.  Those  who  have 
had  much  have  stood  by  him  in  this  great  constructive  work, 
those  who  have  had  little  have  done  their  duty  and  borne 
their  part  and  gladly  given  of  that  little.  He  has  been 
Governor  of  a  great  people  who  trust  in  God  and  love  their 
neighbors.  He  has  been  fortunate  during  his  term  as 
Governor  in  the  selection  of  William  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary,  Margaret  Willis,  Executive  Secretary 
and  Mamie  C.  Turner,  Executive  Clerk.     All  have  done 


xlvi  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

efficient  service.  Following  the  achievements  of  Governor 
Morrison's  administration,  the  people  of  the  State  have 
elected  to  succeed  him  a  wise,  careful  and  finely  equipped 
business  and  professional  man  of  the  highest  character, 
Angus  Wilton  McLean,  by  a  majority  of  108,814. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  a  condition  in  general. 
Sixty  years  ago  this  State  was  in  ashes.  Last  year  we  were 
fifth  in  the  value  of  farm  products  in  the  United  States; 
first  in  tobacco,  second  in  cotton  production  and  second 
in  textile  industry.  We  have  the  largest  hydro-electric 
development  in  the  United  States.  We  have  the  largest 
towel  mill,  wood  pulp  mill,  denim  mill,  damask  mill, 
hosiery  mill,  gingham  mill,  chair  factory  and  underwear 
factory  in  the  United  States,  the  largest  bright  leaf  tobacco 
market  in  the  world,  the  largest  bulb-growing  industry  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  largest  kaolin  and  felspar  mines, 
first  in  production  of  peanuts,  largest  tobacco  factory  in 
the  world,  75  per  cent  of  the  mica  is  taken  from  North 
Carolina  mines.  Our  population  is  about  99  per  cent 
native  born.  We  have  the  largest  birth  rate  in  the  Union 
and  death  rate  almost  the  lowest,  12  per  thousand.  Our 
State  paid  in  Federal  tax  last  year  about  3157,973,393. 
The  only  states  that  paid  a  larger  sum  were  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  Illinois  and  Michigan.  We  paid  ^19, 291, 739 
more  than  Massachusetts.  We  have  fine  banks,  building 
and  loan  associations,  and  In  every  line  of  farm  and  com- 
mercial life  have  prospered  far  beyond  the  dream  of  the 
most  sanguine.  We  have  gone  forward  by  leaps  and  bounds. 

On  May  20,  1775,  at  Charlotte,  the  first  Declaration 
of  Independence,  known  as  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration 
(and  resolutions  of  May  31)   was  promulgated. 

The  Battle  of  Kings  Mountain  is  credited  to  be  the 
turning  point  in  the  Revolution,  fought  on  South  Carolina 
soil,  but  by  the  heroes  of  Virginia,  Tennessee  and  the 
Carolinas.  The  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House  also 
helped  turn  the  tide — the  sequel  of  both  battles.  Lord 
Cornwallis  fell  into  the  hands  of  Washington  at  Yorktown 
and  surrendered. 


Cameron  Morrison  '       xlvii 

North  Carolina  has  a  wonderful  climate — the  sand-hills, 
seashore  and  mountains.  Mount  Mitchell  Peak  is  6,711 
feet  high,  the  highest  this  side  of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  World  War,  Hindenburg  made  a  line  of  defense 
that  he  thought  no  people  on  this  earth  could  break.  The 
Thirtieth  Division,  composed  of  North,  South  Carolina 
and  Tennessee  troops,  broke  through  the  world-famed 
Hindenburg  Line.  In  the  World  War  16  Congressional 
medals  were  given  by  the  United  States  for  supreme 
courage  beyond  duty — North  Carolina,  South  Carolina 
and  Tennessee,  received  about  one-fifth,  thirteen,  of  these 
medals. 

I  have  known  Governor  Morrison  for  thirty  years. 
I  have  never  known  him  to  take  a  drink  of  intoxicating 
liquor  or  tell  an  indecent  anecdote,  either  in  public  or 
private.  He  is  brave  physically  and  morally,  open  and 
above  board  in  all  that  he  does,  and  he  never  hits  below  the 
belt.  He  is  loyal  to  his  friends,  magnanimous  to  his 
opponents.  He  has  an  intuition  as  to  the  right  and  justice 
of  things.  He  knows  the  needs  of  government  and  men 
and  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  He  is  as  brave  as  a 
lion  and  is  as  tender  and  gentle  as  a  woman.  The  bravest 
are  the  kindest  and  gentlest.  He  loves  this  Commonwealth 
and  her  people  with  an  intense  and  unselfish  devotion. 
He  has  given  the  best  in  him  to  the  common  weal.  He  is 
not  a  theorist,  but  a  constructionist.  He  never  tears  down; 
he  builds  up;  he  is  not  a  destructionist.  In  oratory  he  is 
not  surpassed  by  any  of  the  great  of  this  State,  or  perhaps 
in  the  Nation.  This  Commonwealth  has  made  great 
strides  in  an  era  of  great  progress  under  his  administration, 
but  has  not  lost  the  faith  of  the  fathers  or  the  ideals  of  the 
Christian  religion. 

This  sketch  is  written  by  a  friend.  Francis  Marion 
Crawford,  in  one  of  his  books,  has  one  of  the  characters  to 
say  of  another:  "He  never  saw  the  devil  in  the  angel  or 
the  sinner  in  the  saint."  Mistakes  have  been  made,  but 
"to  err  is  human,  to  forgive  divine."  A  critic  said  he  was 
trying  to  put  a  thirty-year  program  in  four. 

A  leading  newspaper  said  this: 


xlviii  A  Biographical  Sketch  of 

"In  a  twelve  minute  farewell  address  before  a  joint 
session  of  the  Legislature  (1925)  last  Friday,  Governor 
Morrison  mightily  moved  a  multitude  of  friends  and 
admirers.  In  his  opening  sentence  he  declared  'I  am  deeply 
grateful  to  Almighty  God  and  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
for  the  opportunity  I  have  had  through  the  Governor's 
office  to  serve  humanity  and  glorify  my  Creator,'  He 
asked  those  to  whom  he  may  have  spoken  harshly  to 
ascribe  his  asperity  to  his  zeal  for  the  good  of  the  State 
and  to  the  intensity  of  his  nature  rather  than  to  private 
malace  or  ill  will.  The  Governor  was  showered  with 
congratulations  from  his  friends  at  the  close  of  his  remarks." 

This  land  was  founded  on  freedom  of  Religion.  This 
does  not  mean  no  religion,  as  some  would  interpret  it,  but 
freedom  in  religion.  This  is  a  Christian  commonwealth 
and  he  has  stood  on  the  rock  of  ages — the  Christian 
religion. 

As  he  journeys  on,  I  bid  him  God-speed. 


MESSAGES  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 


INAUGURAL  ADDRESS  OF  GOVERNOR 
CAMERON  MORRISON 

Delivered  at  Raleigh  Auditorium 

JANUARY  12,  1921 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

I  warmly  thank  the  General  Assembly,  the  city  of 
Raleigh,  their  gracious  committees,  and  all  friends  partici- 
pating in  arranging  for  our  inauguration.  It  is  all  so 
handsomely  and  generously  planned  that  I  am  both  grateful 
and  delighted. 

I  also  desire  to  express  my  deep  appreciation  to  all  the 
people  of  the  State,  of  both  races,  and  of  both  political 
parties,  for  the  many  acts  and  expressions  of  good  will 
coming  to  me  from  every  section  of  the  State  since  my 
election  as  your  Governor.  Under  our  American  system 
of  free  and  tumultuous  party  nominations  and  elections 
we  have  the  most  intense  and  angry  primaries  and  elections 
held  anywhere  in  the  world  where  there  is  orderly  govern- 
ment; but  after  the  tumult  and  shouting  of  our  primaries 
and  elections  have  passed,  and  in  perfect  freedom  of 
discussion  and  action  the  people  have  chosen  their  officers, 
we  yield  to  the  choice  of  the  majority  our  most  united, 
generous    and   whole-hearted    loyalty   and    support. 

We  do  this  not  alone  because  of  our  devotion  to  the  basic 
principle  of  orderly  democratic  government,  that  the 
minority  should  submit  to  the  majority,  but  because  we 
realize  that  the  questions  involved  in  the  primaries  and 
elections,  about  which  we  differ,  while  important,  are  of 
far  less  importance  than  the  great  principles  and  policies 
of  government  about  which  we  agree,  and  which  are  never 
involved  in  our  elections. 

We  are  in  complete  accord  in  North  Carolina  about  the 
more  important  questions  of  government,  but  we  allow 
ourselves  to  become  excited  and  divided  over  the  less 
important  questions  about  which  we  differ,  and  fail  we 
agree  upon  plans  and  methods  to  have  done  the  things   to 


4  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

have  most  at  heart.  If  for  only  a  few  years  we  would 
give  united  effort  to  having  well  and  generously  done 
those  things  which  all  Christians  and  patriots  want  done, 
and  refrain  from  angry  division  and  diverting  excitement 
over  the  comparatively  unimportant  things  we  differ 
about,  North  Carolina  could  be  made  the  strongest  and 
happiest   democracy   in   the   entire   world. 

On  this,  to  me,  very  happy  occasion,  I  want  to  forget 
the  few  things  we  differ  about,  and  beg  for  deep  con- 
sideration and  broad  cooperation  from  all  the  people  of 
the  State  in  the  accomplishment  of  some  great  and  noble 
purpose  of  State  which,  above  partisanship  and  petty 
division,  all  good  men  and  women  desire  done,  and  about 
which  they  differ  only  as  to  the  methods  and  plans  best 
adapted  to  their  accomplishment. 

As  your  duly  chosen  Governor,  I  appeal  to  all  the  people 
of  the  State  to  unite  in  a  great  spirit  of  Christian  concord 
and  patriotic  cooperation  to  write  into  the  life  of  our 
State  the  program  I  am  about  to  suggest.  It  is  one  I  have 
found  in  the  hearts  of  the  good  people  of  this  State,  and 
which  has  been  disclosed  to  me  by  years  of  intimate  touch 
with  their  heart  throbs. 

LAW    ENFORCEMENT 

We  must  enforce  the  law  against  crime  in  our  State 
with  godlike  impartiality  and  justice.  We  must  let  the 
criminal  in  our  midst  know  that  organized  society  in  this 
State  will  make  no  quarter  with  crime;  that  our  State's 
conception  of  justice,  though  "seasoned  with  mercy,"  is 
inexorable,  and  that  in  our  practices  of  mercy,  justification 
for  lawlessness  cannot  be  found.  The  legislative  depart- 
ment of  our  government  must  provide  ample  courts  of 
justice,  and  sufficient  police  power  to  enforce  the  law  in 
this  State  with  such  majesty  and  thoroughness  that  the 
criminal  in  the  darkest  corners  of  the  State  will  know  that 
our  State  is  one  of  law  and  order,  and  that  he  who  defies 
the  law,  either  by  stealth  or  overgrown  power,  will  be 
made  to  suffer  for  his  selfish  contempt  of  decency  and 
right. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  5 

our  institutions  for  the  unfortunate 

We  must  take  humane  care  of  all  our  defective  and 
unfortunate  people,  whose  defects  and  misfortunes  are  of  a 
character  that  they  cannot  care  for  themselves,  or  be 
adequately  cared  for  by  the  private  efforts  of  loved  ones. 
In  order  to  accomplish  this  godlike  purpose,  the  institutions 
and  organizations  set  up  by  the  State  for  the  care  of  our 
defective  and  unfortunate  people  must  be  made  adequate 
for  the  treatment,  care,  and  training  of  these  helpless  and 
defective  ones  within  our  borders  in  a  manner  worthy  of  a 
people  who  love  deeds  of  mercy  above  all  material  things. 

And  the  delinquent  girls  and  boys  of  our  State  must  be 
cared  for  and  trained  as  the  conscience  of  a  Christian 
civilization  demands.  Our  institutions  for  this  sacred  and 
patriotic  work  must  be  strengthened  and  made  adequate 
to  carry  out  this   noble  purpose. 

The  institutions  and  organizations  which  we  have  set 
up  for  these  noble  purposes  are  well  designed  for  the  great 
work  to  be  done;  but,  we  have  discovered  that  the  work 
to  be  done  is  so  much  greater  than  we  knew,  that  they  must 
all  be  strengthened  and  equipped  to  do  larger  work  than 
heretofore. 

HEALTH 

We  must  throw  around  the  home  and  life  of  our  people 
an  enlightened  world's  knowledge  of  preventive  medicine, 
and  make  ceaseless  war  upon  sickness,  suffering  and  death 
in  this  State.  Our  great  Department  of  Health  must  be 
generously  nourished  and  equipped  for  this  humane  service. 
Disease  cannot  be  successfully  prevented  by  individual 
effort  alone.  Modern  statesmanship  demands  that  every 
practical  effort  shall  be  made  through  organized  health 
boards  and  expert  officers  to  protect  the  health  of  the 
people.  Our  Health  Department  has  accomplished  wonders 
with  the  means  furnished.  I  believe  I  express  the  deep 
desire  of  our  enlightened  people  when  I  urge  increased 
strength  for  this  great  department  of  our  government. 


6  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

education 

We  must  make  the  common  schools  for  the  training 
and  education  of  our  children  as  good  as  any  in  the  world. 
We  ought  to  glory  in  the  difficulties  overcome  and  progress 
made  in  this  sacred  and  patriotic  work  in  the  last  twenty 
years;  but  we  want  to  go  on,  and  ever  on,  until  the  precious 
boys  and  girls  of  our  State  have  an  equal  chance  with  any 
in  the  wide  world  for  a  modern  and  up-to-date  education. 
Criticism  of  past  achievement  is  absolutely  unjust,  and 
will  not  be  tolerated  by  the  battle-scarred  veterans  of  the 
war  on  ignorance  in  this  State,  begun  twenty-odd  years 
ago  under  the  leadership  of  Charles  B.  Aycock,  Charles  D. 
Mclver,  Alexander  Graham,  and  other  leaders  of  our 
educational  life.  The  story  of  our  progress  in  education 
is  a  glorious  one.  Our  present  weakness  grows  out  of  our 
success.  We  have  attained  such  glorious  results  that  our 
equipment  and  organization  is  inadequate.  There  is  honor 
to  the  State  in  the  fact  that  our  high  schools  will  annually 
graduate  some  4,000  boys  and  girls  and  send  to  our  Univer- 
sity and  colleges  many  hundreds  more  than  can  be  com- 
fortably cared  for  and  educated  there.  The  number  must 
be  increased,  and  will  be  increased.  The  common  schools 
and  standard  high  schools  are  just  beginning  to  fulfill  the 
vision  of  Charles  B.  Aycock,  that  all  the  people  of  North 
Carolina  should  be  educated.  It  is  no  disgrace  that  our 
common  schools  have  been  so  successful  as  to  overcrowd 
our  institutions  of  higher  learning.  But  it  will  be  a  badge 
of  shame  and  degradation  if  the  higher  institutions  of 
learning  are  not  promptly  made  adequate  for  the  demands 
which  the  success  of  our  effort  to  educate  all  the  people 
have  so  rapidly  made  upon  these  institutions.  Until 
recently  it  would  have  been  an  apparent  waste  of  public 
funds  to  have  expended  the  money  upon  the  State's  insti- 
tutions for  higher  learning  which  we  now  know  to  be 
imperatively  demanded.  Public  sentiment  would  not  have 
justified  it.  But  today,  the  higher  institutions  of  learn- 
ing, public  and  private,  are  totally  inadequate  to  give  the 
boys  and  girls  of  our  State,  annually  trained  by  our  common 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  7 

school  system,  the  opportunities  to  go  higher,  which  they 
demand;  we  must  act  generously  and  without  delay.  The 
condition  is  unfortunate,  but  could  not  have  been  reasonably 
foreseen.  The  splendid  work  of  the  standard  high  schools 
exceeds  all  expectations,  and  this,  coupled  with  the  un- 
paralleled prosperity  enjoyed  for  a  period  until  recently  by 
our  people,  placed  unexpected  responsibihties  upon  these 
institutions  for  higher  learning.  The  grand  army  of  young 
men  and  young  women  marching  to  our  University  and 
institutions  for  higher  learning  from  the  standard  high 
schools  of  our  State,  and  other  preparatory  schools,  asking 
the  State  to  furnish  them  training  and  higher  learning, 
will  be  tremendously  increased  year  by  year.  So,  now  the 
duty  is  clear  and  cannot  be  escaped.  We  must  make  the 
State's  University,  the  Agricultural  and  Engineering  College, 
the  North  Carolina  College  for  Women,  the  Teachers' 
Training  School,  every  one  of  its  institutions  for  higher 
learning,  adequate  to  discharge  the  glorious  opportunities 
which  our  progress  places  before  them. 

We  must  not  look  upon  this  condition  as  a  liability  and 
financial  difficulty.  It  is  our  State's  greatest  asset,  and 
splendid  as  our  accumulation  of  material  things  has  been  for 
twenty  years,  it  is  all  of  less  value  than  the  triumph  of  our 
great  educational  awakening.  It  is  a  duty  which  must  be 
performed,  and  can  only  be  performed  in  sacrifice  and 
self-denial;  it  is  at  the  same  time  a  glorious  opportunity  to 
make  an  investment  which  is  absolutely  certain  to  result 
in  greater  profit  than  any  investment  which  our  people 
could  possibly  make,  and  which  will  result  in  increased 
prosperity  and  strength  to  every  industry  in  North  Carolina. 

GOOD    ROADS 

We  must  have  good  surface  roads  in  the  State.  The 
main  highways  must  be  of  hard  surface,  and  dependable 
every  day  in  the  year.  The  construction  of  the  main 
highways  must  be  forced  by  the  State,  and  constructed 
under  its  agents  in  order  to  get  them  through  a  few  unpro- 
gressive  counties  that  will  not  construct  them,  and  through 


8  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

a  few  poor  counties  which  do  not  have  sufficient  wealth  to 
justify  their  construction.  We  have  few  such  counties, 
but  the  few  make  a  completed  system  for  the  State  impos- 
sible without  State  action.  It,  therefore,  becomes  impera- 
tive, if  we  are  to  have  a  reliable  system  of  highways  in  the 
State  over  which  the  people  can  travel  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year  in  safety  and  confidence,  for  the  State  to  depart  from 
its  time-honored  policy  of  leaving  the  construction  and 
maintenance  of  roads  to  the  counties.  In  my  judgment, 
we  should  not  depart  from  local  self-government  in  the 
matter  of  road  construction  and  maintenance  any  farther 
than  practicality  and  necessity  require.  It  would  be 
very  unwise  for  the  State  to  undertake  the  whole  duty  of 
building  and  maintaining  public  roads,  and  it  should  be 
distinctly  understood  that,  except  these  main  highways, 
the  counties  exclusively  must  provide  roads. 

These  main  highways,  in  my  judgment,  should  be 
constructed  without  delay,  and  as  a  whole  system,  and  not 
stretched  over  a  long  period  of  years,  during  which  the 
whole  State  will  be  paying  for,  and  only  a  part  of  it  enjoying, 
good  roads.  There  is  too  much  danger  of  injustice  in  a 
partial  system  under  which  roads  will  be  constructed  in 
some  sections  and  postponed  in  others,  subject  to  a  change 
in  legislative  intent,  and  which  could  result  in  these  State 
highways  not  being  constructed  in  some  sections  for  many 
years,  or  possibly  never  done.  And  then  I  believe  there  is 
strength  and  sound  business  in  constructing  this  entire 
system  of  State  highways  as  promptly  as  possible.  It  is 
unwise  to  start  across  the  State  with  a  road  under  a  plan 
that  may  result  in  our  building  and  wearing  out  one  end  of 
the  highway  before  the  other  is  constructed.  We  ought 
to  plan  for  a  completed  system,  under  which  there  can  be 
no   injustice   to   any   section. 

We  will  build  this  State  highway  system.  The  judgment 
of  our  people  is  formed  about  it.  The  only  question  is: 
Are  we  going  to  build  it  by  piecemeal,  and  in  a  large  measure 
dissipate  the  advertising  benefit  and  strength  of  it,  or  will 
we  construct  it,  as  speedily  as  sound  business  principles  will 
permit,    as    a   glorious   whole  ,^     The   piecemeal    system   is 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  9 

one  of  weakness  and  timidity  in  front  of  a  great  duty; 
the  completed  system  is  a  policy  of  courage  and  wisdom 
in  the  discharge  of  high  duty.  It  is  a  great  question,  and 
involves  millions  of  dollars,  and  yet  I  believe  the  part  of 
wisdom  requires  that  we  should  boldly  move  forward  and 
under  the  wisest  plan  we  can  work  out  and  reach  concord 
about,  proceed  with  courage  and  celerity  to  construct  a 
complete  system  of  hard  surfaced  State  highways. 

The  piecemeal  system  will  involve  the  expenditure  of 
just  as  much  money,  and  in  my  judgment  more,  and  will 
largely  defeat  the  only  excuse  for  State  action  at  all,  which 
is  to  have  a  complete  system  for  the  whole  State.  There 
is  no  argument  against  authorizing  and  empowering, 
through  wisely  devised  agencies,  the  construction  of  the 
whole  system,  except  cowardly  distrust  of  the  judgment  of 
our  people  in  standing  the  shock  of  authorizing  at  one 
session  of  our  General  Assembly  the  great  sum  of  money 
involved.  We  need  not  fear  to  trust  the  people  to  approve 
wise  action,  though  it  may  involve  some  boldness. 

We  ought  not  to  be  too  sure  of  our  own  plan,  but  put  all 
of  our  plans  before  the  committees  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  submit  our  individual  judgment  and  plan  to  the 
wisdom  of  the  General  Assembly's  final  action.  But  I 
believe  I  voice  the  high  purpose  of  the  enlightened  thought 
of  the  State  when  I  declare  we  are  ready  to  meet  the 
Reactionary  and  do  battle  with  him  in  our  determination  to 
build  this  great  system  of  State  highways  upon  the  wisest 
plan  that  we  can  agree  upon,  and  as  quickly  as  it  can  be  done 
upon  sound  business  principles. 

I  am  very  confident  in  my  own  judgment  that  the 
counties  through  which  these  highways  go  should  be  forced 
by  the  soverign  power  of  the  State  to  pay  a  portion  of  the 
cost  of  building  these  highways;  that  when  they  are  un- 
willing to  do  so,  the  State,  with  its  unquestioned  power, 
ought  to  make  them  do  so,  and  not  allow  an  unprogressive 
county  to  stand  up  against  the  rest  of  the  State  and  stay 
the  march  of  progress  through  It.  The  amount  which  the 
county  ought  to  be  made  to  pay  should  be  conservative 
and  safely  within  the  ability  of  the  county. 


10  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  whole  expense  of  building  these  highways  ought 
to  be  met  upon  the  sound  credit  of  the  State  and  the 
counties  and  without  one  cent  of  any  kind  of  taxation  at 
the  present  for  any  purpose  except  to  pay  the  interest  on 
the  bonds;  and,  in  my  judgment,  without  one  cent  of 
ad  valorem  State  taxation  for  any  purpose  in  connection 
with  it;  the  interest  should  be  met  through  automobile, 
gasoline,  and  kindred  taxation,  and  without  one  cent 
upon  the  general  property  of  the  State. 

I  believe  the  upkeep  of  these  State  highways  should 
be  forced  by  the  State  through  county  action.  We  will 
necessarily  have  county  organization  for  the  upkeep  of 
county  roads,  and  it  will  be  duplication  to  make  State 
provision  for  the  maintenance  and  upkeep  of  these  high- 
ways. Legislation  can  be  enacted  under  which  the  counties 
will  be  absolutely  forced  to  keep  the  highways  up,  and  in 
connection  with  their  local  roads  this  can  be  much  more 
inexpensively  done  than  by  the  State,  with  an  additional 
organization  and  system.  The  State  should  provide  for 
inspection,  for  report  and  for  prosecution  of  couiity  author- 
ities who  fail  to  obey  the  State's  commands,  and  the  State 
should  give  the  county  ample  authority  to  raise  the  means 
with  which  to  keep  up  the  highways  within  their  borders, 
and  then  provide  through  its  Department  of  Justice  and 
through  inspectors  to  force  the  exercise  of  this  power  and 
the  performance  of  this  duty.  I  would  regret  very  much 
to  see  the  State  adopt  a  permanent  policy  of  keeping  up 
these  highways  through  State  agencies.  I  am  satisfied 
it  would  be  duplication  of  county  effort,  unnecessarily 
expensive  and  very  difficult  to  carry  out  without  corruption 
and  inefficiency  creeping  in.  Experience  has  demonstrated 
that  things  which  in  their  nature  can  be  done  by  the 
counties  will  be  better  done  by  them  than  by  State  or 
Federal  agencies.  The  State  must  force  the  construction 
of  these  highways  for  the  reasons  I  have  stated,  but  there  is 
no  reason  apparent  to  me  why  the  State  cannot  and  ought 
not  to  force  the  counties  to  maintain  and  keep  the  roads 
up  after  they  are  constructed,  and  authorize  and  impera- 
tively  direct   the   levy   of   sufficient   tax   by   the   counties 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  H 

with  which  to  do  so,  and  require  this  fund  to  be  kept 
separate  and  apart  from  all  other  funds.  The  only  necessity 
for  State  action  about  the  matter  at  all  is  because  some  of 
the  counties  are  unable  to  build  these  highways  without 
generous  State  aid.  But  for  this  fact  I  would  favor  forcmg 
action  by  the  counties  in  the  construction  of  the  necessary 
highways  to  travel  through  them.  After  they  are  con- 
structed, with  wise  inspection  and  proper  policing  by  the 
State,  the  county  authorities  must  be  made  to  maintam 
them,'  and  it  will  be  easily  within  their  power,  for  the 
upkeep  of  the  character  of  road  which  the  State  ought  to, 
and  must,  build  will  be  less  than  that  of  the  present  roads. 

It  will  be  impossible,  in  my  judgment,  for  the  State  to 
finance  a  plan  for  these  State  highways  which  requires 
the  State  both  to  construct  and  maintain  the  system, 
without  heavy  ad  valorem  taxation,  and  public  sentiment 
will  not  stand  for  ad  valorem  taxation  for  State  purposes. 

After  long  reflections  I  urge  the  construction  of  this 
system  of  highways  under  a  law  by  the  present  General 
Assembly  providing  for  a  completed  system  to  be  main- 
tained and  kept  up,  when  constructed,  by  the  county  author- 
ities under  carefully  drawn  legislation,  providing  for  State 
inspection,  police  protection,  and  coercion  of  county 
authorities  failing  in  the  matter  of  maintenance  and 
upkeep. 

COST    OF    THE    ENTIRE    PROGRAM 

I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  solemn  responsibility  of 
advising  the  expenditure  of  the  vast  amount  of  money  which 
the  program  I  have  suggested  requires,  but  the^  things 
mentioned  ought  to  be  done.  Sound  business  principles 
require  that  they  should  be  done  speedily  and  without 
delay.  We  cannot  progress  in  our  spiritual,  intellectual, 
or  material  development  unless  they  are  done.  ^  They  will 
be  done,  either  generously  and  in  a  manner  to  give  us  as  a 
State  the  full  benefit  of  doing  them,  or  they  will  be  done  by 
patchwork  and  over  a  period  of  years,  and  in  such  manner 
as  will  largely  dissipate  the  benefit  to  the  State  of  doing 
them   and   at  greater  cost  in   the  long   run. 


12  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  entire  program  which  I  have  suggested  will  require 
great  sums  of  money,  but  in  our  abiHty  to  find  the  money 
we  are  one  of  the  most  fortunate  states  in  the  RepubHc. 
The  pubHc  indebtedness  of  our  State  is  trifling  when 
compared  to  that  of  most  of  the  states.  If  we  credit  our 
State's  indebtedness  with  the  value  of  our  railroad  stocks, 
it  would  be  almost  wiped  out. 

The  people  are  now  burdened  with  unparalleled  Federal 
taxation,  and  in  many  counties  heavy  local  taxation. 
Therefore,  we  ought  not  to  levy  additional  taxation  upon 
this  State  to  make  any  of  the  suggested  improvements,  which 
are  permanent  in  character.  But  the  credit  of  our  State  is 
in  a  most  healthy  condition,  and  those  who  are  solicitous  of 
future  generations  could  not  complain  of  the  increase  of 
our  public  indebtedness  for  these  great  purposes  when  they 
reflect  that  North  Carolina  has  heretofore  created  prac- 
tically no  public  debt  for  future  generations  to  pay;  and  that 
we  would,  if  this  program  was  carried  out,  transmit  to  those 
who  come  after  us  a  heritage  nobler  by  far  with  the  indebt- 
edness than  it  would  be  without  it. 

The  necessary  improvement  at  our  institutions  for  the 
care  of  the  unfortunate,  the  large  expenditure  required 
to  place  our  University  and  colleges  for  higher  learning  in  a 
position  adequately  to  meet  the  demands  upon  them,  and 
for  the  construction  of  the  State  highway  system  of  roads 
ought  to  be  met  by  a  sale  of  the  State's  bonds,  and  an 
increase  of  its   public   indebtedness. 

TAXATION 

We  must  adopt  a  new  system  of  taxation  in  which 
State  taxation  and  county  and  other  local  taxation  will  be 
completely  separated.  Under  the  new  system  we  should 
levy  no  ad  valorem  tax  whatever  for  State  purposes,  and  ad 
valorem  taxation  should  be  confined  strictly  to  local 
purposes.  It  is  my  purpose  to  address  the  General  Assembly 
upon  this  subject  at  an  early  date,  and  I  will,  therefore, 
refrain  from  entering  into  the  subject  with  any  particu- 
larity at  this  time;  but  we  must  adopt  an  entirely  new 
system,   shot  through  and  through  with  justice,  and  one 


Messages  to  the  General  Assemlby  13 

through  which  the  burdens  of  State  and  county  government 
will  be  placed  equitably  and  according  to  the  conscience 
of  the  State. 

OTHER    SUBJECTS 

There  are  other  subjects  in  which,  as  your  Governor, 
I  am  deeply  interested,  but  they  are  less  important  than 
those  I  have  mentioned,  and  some  of  them  being  in  their 
nature  somewhat  controversial,  I  omit  reference  to  them 
here,  because  I  most  earnestly  desire  that  we  may  unite 
for  the  larger  and  more  pressing  purposes  I  have  discussed. 

AS    TO    ENTIRE    PROGRAM 

The  program  I  have  suggested  does  not  contain  new  or 
revolutionary  ideas  calculated  to  excite  wild  enthusiasm, 
but,  in  my  judgment,  it  is  a  program  which,  if  carried  out, 
would  make  North  Carolina  the  fairest  and  noblest  habi- 
tation for  men,  women  and  children  to  be  found  upon  the 
earth.  Its  adoption  in  completeness  and  fullness  will 
require  political  courage  of  a  high  order,  not  because  we  do 
not  want  the  things  mentioned  done,  but  because  of  the 
danger  of  disagreement  of  friends  of  the  program  as  to  the 
method,  manner  and  time  of  completing  it,  and  I  appeal  to 
the  progressive  men  and  women  of  the  State  to  come  to- 
gether upon  this  program,  moderate  their  differences  about 
other  public  questions  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  impos- 
sible all  diverting  differences,  agree  to  details  and  plans, 
and  courageously  proceed  to  write  it  into  law, 
\  The  Reactionary  will  whisper  to  the  timid  that  this  is  a 
bad  time  to  expend  much  money  because  of  the  depressed 
condition  of  our  whole  business  life.  Business  is  depressed, 
and  we  have  recently  suffered  severe  loss  and  shrinkage  in 
values,  but  North  Carolina  is  still  rich  enough  to  take 
humane  care  of  its  defective  and  unfortunate,  to  guard 
itself  as  far  as  an  enlightened  knowledge  of  preventive 
medicine  will  enable  it  to  against  sickness  and  suffering, 
to  provide  adequate  schools  for  the  training  and  education 
of  its  children,  to  build  a  system  of  roads  suggested  by 
sound  business,  and  to  do  all  other  things  reasonably 
necessary  in  the  discharge  of  the  high  duties  of  a  great 
State.     Times   are   hard,   but   they   do   not   approach   the 


14  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

severity  of  conditions  which  we  have  met  with  courage  in 
the  past.  We  are  given  in  times  of  great  prosperity  to  think 
depression  and  bad  times  will  never  come  again;  and  in 
periods  of  hard  times  and  depression  we  are  given  to  think 
good  times  are  gone,  never  to  return.  Twelve  months 
ago  we  were  rolling  in  prosperity  and  expected  the  year  1920 
to  be  the  most  prosperous  in  our  history.  A  year  ago  we 
could  not  have  foreseen  the  present  depression  and  dispirited 
condition  of  our  people.  We  are  depressed  and  dispirited 
now;  but  business  is  a  complex  and  mysterious  thing,  and 
for  all  the  wisest  among  us  may  know,  we  may  in  this 
depression  be  laying  the  foundation  stones  for  a  structure 
of  business  and  prosperity  the  like  of  which  our  country 
has  never  known.  We  must  not  give  up;  prosperous  times 
are  sure  to  return.  The  United  States  is  richer  than  any 
two  or  three  countries  in  the  world,  and  we  have  more 
productive  energy  and  initiative  than  all  Europe  comibined. 
North  Carolina  is  one  of  the  truly  rich  and  great  states  of 
the  Union,  and  nothing  can  keep  prosperity  from  soon 
returning  to  us  except  our  own  cowardice  and  pessimism. 
Let  us  recall  the  trials,  sacrifices  and  triumphs  of  our 
fathers  and  mothers,  and  unite  to  further  upbuild  our 
State  and  glorify  our  God.  In  this  hour  of  trial  and 
depression  I  appeal  to  all  the  people  of  the  State  to  go 
forward  with  courage  and  determination  in  every  direction 
in  which  Christians  and  patriots  are  looking.  For  twenty 
years  we  have  splendidly  progressed  in  North  Carolina,  and 
under  the  assaults  of  our  great  Christian  democracy,  under 
the  leadership  of  the  Democratic  party,  we  have  made 
"Hell's  foundations  quiver"  everywhere.  We  are  in  sight 
of  victory  on  every  battle  field  where. the  flag  of  Christianity 
and  progressive  democracy  floats  over  the  noble  and  the 
good  as  they  war  for  righteousness  with  the  reactionary  and 
unprogressive  forces  of  our  State.  We  must  not  march 
away  and  leave  any  battle  field  where  right,  justice  and 
progress  are  contending  with  the  foes  of  enlightenment  and 
progress  because  of  unexpected  temporary  business  depres- 
sion. We  must  go  on,  marching  as  a  mighty  army,  with 
the  "Cross  of  Jesus  going  on  before,"  until  North  Carolina 
is  truly  great  and  nobly  good. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  15 

TAXATION;  DEPARTMENT  OF  REVENUE; 
COMMISSIONER  OF  BANKS 

special  message 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  January  28,  1921. 

To  the  Members  of  the  General  Assembly: 

Having  called  your  attention  to  the  larger  problems  of 
the  State  in  my  inaugural  address,  and  urged  your  attention 
to  them  in  a  manner  which  I  believe  the  people  have 
authorized  me  as  their  spokesman  to  do,  I  now  desire  your 
indulgence  for  some  further  and  more  particular  recommen- 
dations upon  one  of  the  subjects  discussed  in  my  inaugural 
address,  of  which  I  gave  notice  on  that  occasion. 

taxation 

I  refer  to  the  subject  of  taxation  for  the  support  of  the 
State  government.  I  believe  I  have  been  peculiarly 
authorized  to  speak  for  the  people  of  the  State  upon  this 
most  important  subject,  and  I  therefore  speak  with  confi- 
dence that  I  voice  the  carefully  formed  judgment  of  the 
people.  We  ought  not  to  levy  any  ad  valorem  taxation 
whatever  for  State  purposes,  but  completely  release  to  the 
counties  and  towns  and  cities  this  source  of  taxation.  We 
ought  to  levy  sufficient  taxation,  other  than  ad  valorem, 
to  discharge  the  high  duties  of  a  great  and  progressive 
State  and  to  administer  our  State  government  in  rigid 
economy,  though  in  unquestioned  efficiency.  Prolonged 
discussion  and  consideration  of  the  subject  has  resulted  in 
a  fixed  judgment  by  the  people  of  this  State  that  ad  valorem 
taxation  for  State  purposes  is  the  most  difficult  of  all  tax 
to  levy  and  collect  in  equity  and  justice,  and  that  it  is  also 
the  most  expensive  to  collect;  that  it  is  no  longer  necessary 
for  State  purposes,  and  that  the  counties  and  towns  and 
special-tax  districts  of  the  State  require  all  the  revenu 
which  can  be  justly  and  constitutionally  levied  through 
ad  valorem  taxation  upon  the  property  of  the  State. 


16  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

I  do  not  deem  it  wise  to  occupy  your  time  with  arguments 
and  discussion,  because  I  feel  sure  that  this  question  has 
been  discussed  for  so  long  and  with  such  thoroughness  that 
anything  I  could  say  would  largely  be  repetition.  We 
now  know  that  ad  valorem  taxation  is  a  tax  upon  the 
principal  property  of  the  people,  and  that  when  levied  by 
uniform  rule  it  frequently  bears  most  burdensomely  and 
unjustly  upon  those  least  able  to  pay.  A  tax  upon  property 
necessarily  reaches  those  who  by  reason  of  age,  infirmity, 
youth,  or  sex  have  little  earning  capacity  and,  although 
possessing  some  property,  need  all  the  income  to  be  derived 
from  it  upon  which  to  live.  These  non-earning  classes, 
although  small  property  holders,  may  have  such  small 
incomes  that  they  are  utterly  unable  to  bear  heavy  taxa- 
tion, and  the  State  must  either  tax  them  oppressively  or 
decline  to  do  many  things  which  the  State  ought  to  do  and 
is  fully  able  to  do  rather  than  oppress  the  weak  and  non- 
earning  property  owners  with  additional  taxation.  The 
tax  which  the  counties,  towns  and  cities  and  other  com- 
munities will  levy  upon  property,  the  principal  money  of  the 
people,  will  require  all  of  the  taxation  which  it  is  either 
wise  or  just  to  levy  upon  property  in  this  State.  Gov- 
ernment is  becoming  more  and  more  expensive  because 
it  is  properly  doing  more  and  more  to  improve  and  protect 
the  people.  The  necessary  county  and  town  expenses  are 
great,  but  the  people  from  their  local  governments  obtain 
more  benefit  than  in  the  past,  and  more  than  is  received  in 
any  other  country  in  the  world.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary, 
unless  we  are  going  to  retard  the  progress  of  our  people, 
to  allow  the  towns  and  cities  and  counties  of  the  State 
larger  revenue. 

But  because  we  are  about  to  adopt  a  new  system  of 
taxation  under  which  ad  valorem  taxation  will  be  released 
to  the  counties  and  the  towns  and  cities,  we  must  not 
conclude  that  the  State  will  be  unable  to  raise  by  con- 
stitutional and  just  taxation  all  the  revenue  which  it  may 
need  for  the  purpose  of  sustaining  the  institutions  established 
for  the  care  and  maintenance  of  its  unfortunate  and  defec- 
tive people;  to  support  its  institutions  for  higher  learning, 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  17 

and  to  discharge  all  of  the  duties  of  a  great  commonwealth. 
We  can  tax  the  people  of  the  State  not  only  as  much  without 
ad  valorem  taxation  as  with  it,  but  with  greater  justice  to 
all  classes.  There  is  absolutely  no  reason  why  we  should 
not  raise  through  taxation  all  the  money  necessary  to  pay 
the  interest  upon  a  sufficient  issue  of  State  bonds  to  make 
the  permanent  improvements  necessary  at  our  institutions 
for  the  care  of  the  unfortunate  and  defective  of  our  State 
and  at  our  institutions  for  higher  learning,  and  to  defray 
the  current  annual  expenses  of  an  economically  administered 
State  government. 

There  should  be  no  extravagance  or  waste  in  this  State, 
either  in  the  permanent  improvements  made  at  our  State 
institutions  or  in  the  annual  expenses  of  their  maintenance, 
and  certainly  there  should  be  most  rigid  economy  in  the 
administration  of  our  government,  not  only  at  these 
institutions,  but  in  every  department  of  it. 

No  set  of  men  had  any  right  to  anticipate  what  the 
income  of  North  Carolina  would  be  through  taxation  for 
the  next  two  years.  The  Progressives  of  the  State  had 
just  won  a  great  victory.  We  were  pledged  to  progress. 
We  had  amended  our  State  Constitution  upon  the  subject 
of  taxation.  We  had  cleared  away  the  obstacles  and  made 
ready  to  take  care  of  this  State's  unfortunate  and  to  make 
our  institutions  for  higher  learning  worthy  of  the  age  in 
which  we  live.  What  the  representatives  of  this  new  day 
in  North  Carolina  would  do  could  not  be  calculated  by  a 
Budget  Commission,  and  we  ought  not  to  be  bridled  by 
its  recommendations.  We  ought  to  exercise  the  credit  of 
this  State,  not  merely  to  give  to  our  institutions  for  the 
unfortunate  and  defective  and  our  institutions  for  higher 
learning  what  we  must  give  to  save  ourselves  from  positive 
disgrace  and  shame,  but  what  a  wis6  statesmanship  and  a 
great  and  progressive  civilization  suggests  as  wise  and, 
without  waste,  necessary  to  accomplish  the  noble  purposes 
aimed  at  through  these  institutions.  We  do  not  want  to 
move  and  have  our  being  as  a  crippled,  weak  and  halting 
State,  but  we  want  to  stand  up  like  a  mighty  giant  of 
progress  and  go  forward  in  the  upbuilding  of  our  State  and 


18  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the  glorification  of  our  God.  The  man  who  whispers, 
"Go  slow;  we  haven't  got  the  money";  "the  people  won't 
stand  for  any  foolishness,"  is  asleep  and  does  not  realize 
that  North  Carolina  is  determined  to  make  our  government 
strong  for  the  protection  and  upbuilding  of  our  people. 

We  must  not  only  take  care  of  these  noble  institutions, 
but  if  we  are  true  servants  of  the  people,  we  must  build 
a  system  of  hard-surfaced  State  highways  in  this  State 
and   cease  to  waste  money  building  mud   roads. 

The  people  demand  that  this  whole  program  shall  be 
carried  through,  and  fully  know  that  they  are  amply  able 
to  do  it,  if  they  can  get  their  public  servants  to  enact  the 
legislation  necessary.  If  they  did  not  want  these  things 
done,  why  did  they  elect  me  Governor  of  North  Carolina.'' 
For  I  advocated  the  whole  program  in  the  primaries  and 
in  the  general  election  from  Swain  to  Pasquotank. 

How  can  we  raise  the  money  with  which  to  pay  the  in- 
terest for  the  public  improvements  and  the  current  expenses 
of  the  government.?  There  is  no  difficulty  about  it  if  we 
will  but  get  away  from  the  idea  that  the  only  thing  we  can 
justly  tax  is  the  property  of  the  weakling  and  the  widow, 
and  realize  that  the  modern  sense  of  justice  in  taxation 
suggests  less  of  the  burden  upon  the  principal  money  of  the 
people  and  more  upon  annual  income,  profits  and  business. 

The  United  States  government  for  some  years  has  been 
levying  and  collecting  the  largest  tax  bills  ever  levied  and 
collected  on  earth,  and  not  one  dollar  of  it  is  upon  an  ad 
valorem  basis.  It  collected  from  North  Carolina  last  year 
more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  millions  of  dollars,  and 
every  source  of  taxation  used  by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment is  available  to  the  people  of  this  State.  Of  course, 
as  State  taxation,  some  of  it  would  be  most  unwise,  and  I 
would  not  for  one  moment  advise  some  of  the  taxation 
levied  by  the  United  States  government;  but  we  could 
levy  it,  and,  besides,  tax  other  sources  not  touched  by  the 
United  States.  The  proper  committees  of  the  General 
Assembly  ought  to  ascertain  what  revenue  North  Carolina 
needs  to  pay  the  necessary  interest  upon  the  money  which 
should  be  borrowed  to  put  our  educational  and  charitable 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  19 

institutions  upon  a  sound  and  wise  basis,  and  to  build  a 
system  of  hard-surfaced  highways  in  this  State,  and  then 
levy  it.  The  money  can  be  found  without  oppression  or 
injustice  to  anybody.  We  can  tax  every  business  and 
trade  in  North  Carolina  and  classify  the  trades  and 
businesses.  We  can  tax  incomes;  we  can  tax  annual 
profits;  we  can  levy  franchise  and  inheritance  tax,  etc. 
Our  difficulty  in  finding  revenue  through  just  taxation  is 
nothing  like  so  great  as  it  is  to  find  the  courage  and  go 
forward  and  levy  it. 

We  can  construct  a  system  of  highways  in  North  Caro- 
lina without  increasing  the  taxation  now  paid  one  dollar 
by  simply  adopting  the  modern  conception  of  progressive 
government:  borrow  the  money,  and  use  the  automobile 
tax  to  pay  the  interest,  and  realize  that  maintenance  and 
upkeep  is  not  a  new  burden,  but  will  be  a  smaller  one  than 
is  now  borne  by  keeping  up  the  mudholes  of  the  State, 
called  roads.  We  ought  not  to  waste  one  dollar  of  this 
money  building  or  keeping  up  dirt  roads  in  the  State. 
The  revenue  to  defray  our  other  interest  charges  and 
current  expenses  should  be  levied  upon  the  subjects  now 
taxed,  and  an  income  tax,  and,  if  necessary,  taking  exclu- 
sively to  the  State  some  of  the  license  taxes  now  allowed 
towns  and  cities  and  counties.  The  income  tax  is  the 
fairest  of  all  taxes  when  rightly  levied.  In  my  judgment 
it  ought  not  to  be  graduated.  We  would  not  graduate  a 
tax  if  we  were  levying  an  ad  valorem  tax  upon  the  property 
from  which  the  income  is  derived,  and  a  graduated  tax  upon 
the  income  derived  from  the  property  is  just  as  unjust  as  it 
would  be  if  levied  on  an  ad  valorem  basis.  If  it  was 
proposed  in  North  Carolina  to  levy  a  tax  of  fifty  cents  on 
the  hundred  dollars  of  value  on  the  man  owning  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  seventy-five  cents  upon  the  one  hundred 
dollars  of  value  on  persons  owning  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  so  on,  it  would  shock  the  sense  of  justice  of  our 
people  and  not  for  one  moment  would  it  be  tolerated;  but 
when  we  levy  it  upon  the  income,  we  have  followed  a 
popular  fallacy  and  come  to  believe  in  graduating  the  tax. 
I  believe  our  income  tax  should  be  a  uniform  rate  above  the 


20  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

exemption  and  let  each  man  pay  according  to  his  income. 
This  is  just,  and  if  this  principle  is  adopted  there  will  not 
be  a  murmur  of  opposition  throughout  North  Carolina 
from  the  worthy  men  and  women  of  the  State  and  business 
interests  from  whom  so  much  of  the  income  will,  and  ought 
to,  come;  but  when  we  depart  from  the  principle  of  uni- 
formity in  rate  of  taxation  there  is  no  principle  to  control 
us,  and  the  body  levying  the  tax  empirically  decides  how 
much  they  will  take  from  those  with  larger  incomes.  This 
produces  a  feeling  of  fear  and  a  danger  of  injustice  which 
frightens  people  of  large  incomes.  The  man  with  an 
income  of  five  thousand  dollars  over  his  exemption  ought 
to  pay  a  certain  amount,  and  a  man  with  an  income  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars  over  his  exemption  ought  to  pay  just 
ten  times  as  much,  and  no  more.  I  know  I  attack  almost  an 
accepted  principle  of  taxation  in  this  statement;  but,  never- 
theless, a  graduated  income  tax  is  unjust  and  denies  any 
protection  to  those  of  large  incomes,  while  a  uniform  rate  is 
just  to  all,  and  no  man  can  complain.  I  most  earnestly 
urge  concert  of  action  between  the  Finance  Committees  of 
the  General  Assembly  and  the  Appropriation  Committees, 
and  that  they  realize  that  we  are  in  the  midst  of  a  formative 
and  history-making  period;  that  North  Carolina's  income 
is  to  be  determined  now,  and  at  this  session  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  not  by  past  history;  that  the  people  have 
voted  for  greater  strength  and  progress,  and  that  it  is  their 
high  duty  to  lead  the  way  to  a  larger  income  for  the  govern- 
ment of  this  State  and  for  the  upbuilding  of  its  institutions 
and  the  construction  of  a  new  highway  system.  The  Budget 
Commission  did  conscientious  and  splendid  work,  but  in 
this  formative  and  constructive  period  of  our  history  it 
could  not  anticipate  the  action  of  this  General  Assembly 
as  to  income.  I  earnestly  hope  that  their  report  will  be 
considered  as  valuable  and  suggestive,  but  not  controlling. 
The  people  of  this  State  have  paid  less  tax  for  purposes 
of  State  government  for  many  years  than  any  State  in  this 
Union.  Our  public  debt,  when  credited  with  our  liquid 
assets,  is  possibly  the  smallest  in  the  Union.  We  are  able 
to    go    forward.     We   must   go   forward.     The   people,    as 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  21 

forcibly  as  they  could  express  themselves,  have  said  they 
want  to  go  forward.  They  have  amended  by  nearly  two 
hundred  thousand  majority  their  Constitution  upon  the 
subject  of  taxation  in  order  that  they  might  without 
oppressive  ad  valorem  taxation  find  the  revenue  with  which 
to  execute  their  progressive  purposes. 

REVALUATION 

When  we  have  adopted  the  new  system  of  State  taxation 
and  levied  the  necessary  taxes  upon  the  incomes,  businesses 
and  trades  of  the  State,  franchises,  etc.,  we  ought  to 
surrender  to  the  counties  of  the  State  complete  local 
self-government  in  the  valuation  and  taxation  for  ad 
valorem  purposes.  I  believe  that  this  General  Assembly 
should  provide  that  whenever  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners in  any  county  find  as  a  fact  that  the  property 
of  a  county  was  valued  for  more  than  its  actual  value 
in  money  that  there  should  be  a  revaluation  ordered  by 
them  of  the  property  of  such  county,  and  under  a  proper 
Machinery  Act  such  revaluation  should  be  promptly  made; 
and  that  hereafter  when  there  should  be  a  revaluation  of  the 
property  of  the  State  that  under  a  proper  Machinery  Act 
such  valuation  should  be  made  through  the  officials  of  each 
county,  with  such  expert  advice  and  assistance  as  may  be 
found  wise. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

I  further  recommend  the  establishment  of  a  new  depart- 
ment of  our  State  government  to  be  known  as  the  "Depart- 
ment of  Taxation  and  Revenue."  ^  This  General  Assembly 
should  provide  for  this  department  and  transfer  to  a  Com- 
mission of  Taxation  and  Revenue  all  the  duties  with  ref- 
erence to  taxation  now  performed  by  the  Corporation 
Commission. 

I  also  most  earnestly  recommend  the  establishment  of  a 
department  for  the  control  and  supervision  of  the  banks  of 
the  State,   and  that  all  the  duties  now  exercised  by  the 

1  Acting  on  this  recommendation,  the  General  Assembly  passed  an  Act  March  8,  1921,  which 
estabMshed  the  State  Department  of  Revenue.  A.  D.  Watts  was  appointed  first  commissioner. 
Public  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  Chapter  40. 


22  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Corporation  Commission  with  reference  to  banks  should  be 
transferred    to    a    Commissioner   of   Banks.  ^ 

The  Corporation  Commission  is  now  charged  with  duties 
too  burdensome  for  any  three  men  to  discharge.  It  is  their 
duty  to  control  and  regulate  all  the  public-service  cor- 
porations of  this  State  and  to  fix  the  rates  which  they  can 
charge.  This  is  a  most  important  duty  and  must  be  met 
promptly  and  after  long  and  laborious  study  and  research. 
The  Commission  is  now  engaged  constantly  in  this  impor- 
tant work.  They  are  required,  as  they  should  be,  in  many 
important  respects,  still  to  regulate  railroad  service  in  this 
State.  They  are  required,  and  they  should  be,  to  represent 
the  State  in  the  matter  of  freight  rates.  The  Commission 
has  performed  this  duty  in  a  manner  above  all  praise. 
The  State  should  be  constantly  represented  in  this  impor- 
tant matter.  Freight  rates  are  in  the  future  a  judicial  and 
administrative  question.  Political  agitation  about  them 
will  accomplish  nothing,  and  the  incident  irritation  will 
only  prejudice  us  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission, and  more  and  more  the  Corporation  Commission 
must  continue  to  look  after  this  most  important  interest  of 
the  State.  The  prompt  and  efficient  performance  of  these 
two  great  functions  leaves  them  no  time  adequately  to 
supervise  banks  in  North  Carolina  and  look  after  taxation 
and  revenue  matters. 

The  expenses  of  the  Bank  Commissioner  and  his  depart- 
ment will  be  defrayed  by  the  banks,  and  will  not  cost  the 
taxpayers  anything.  The  banks  will  have  supervision 
which  will  be  far  more  satisfactory  to  them,  and  the  Corpo- 
ration Commission  will  be  released  to  discharge  their  other 
important  duties.  The  Commissioner  of  Taxation  and 
Revenue  and  his  organization  should  be  made  efficient,  and 
the  most  generous  provision  for  this  will  not  cost  the 
State  anything  approaching  the  present  cost  of  collecting 
the  revenue  of  the  State  through  the  sheriffs  and  other 
agents  collecting  upon  a  percentage  basis.  I  most  earnestly 
urge  the  creation  of  this  department  because  the  new 
system  of  taxation  cannot  b-e  made  successful  without  it. 

1 A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Senate  to  establish  a  commissioner  of  Banks,  but  received  an  unfavor- 
able report  from  the  Committee  on  Banking  and  Currency.    Senate  Journal,  Session  19^1. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  23 

appointments  to  fill  offices  created 

If  you  should  adopt  my  recommendations  and  create  the 
offices  of  Bank  Commissioner  and  Commissioner  of  Taxation 
and  Revenue,  and  follow  the  custom  of  allowing  the  Gover- 
nor to  appoint,  I  most  earnestly  suggest  that  you  make 
their   appointment   at   the   pleasure   of   the   Governor.     I 
think  it  unwise  to  give  officers  appointed  by  the  Governor 
any  fixed  term.     They  certainly  ought  not  to  go  beyond  the 
term  of  the  Governor  appointing  them,   and  I  believe  it 
would  make  for  strength  and  efficiency  in  the  executive 
branch  of  the  government  if  all  officers  who  are  not  elected 
by  the  people  were  subject  to  removal  by  the  Governor  at 
will   and  without   cause.     Our  institutions   are   all  in   the 
hands  of  boards  that  are  almost  self-perpetuating.     The 
Governor  appoints  ^  a  few  each  year,  and  if  he  desires  to 
change   the   policy   of   any   institution   it   would   be   most 
difficult  for  him  to  do  so.     If  the  first  two  or  three  members 
he  appointed  were  not  pretty  firm  men  the  management 
would  likely  capture  them  against  the  Governor's  policies 
before  he  could  make,  in  the  next  two  or  three  years,  other 
appointments    which    would    enable    him    to    change    the 
management  of  the  institution.     If  the  General  Assembly 
sat  all  the  time  it  could  exercise  the  executive  arm  of  the 
government;  but  it  does  not.     As  soon  as  it  adjourns  the 
smallest  officer  in  this  State  appointed  by  the  Governor 
can  defy  him,  and  there  is  no  power  to  remove  him  until  his 
term  expires.     The   Constitution  of  the  State  places   the 
supreme  executive  power  of  the  State  in  the  Governor's 
office.     I  do  not  desire  to  ask  for  any  greater  power  than  the 
General   Assembly    has    heretofore    in    recognition    of   the 
Constitution  given  the  Governor,  but  I  do  most  earnestly 
ask  that  the  power  given  the  Governor  shall  be  given  in  a 
manner  that  will  enable  him  to  exercise  it  with  energy  and 
efficiency.     The  Governor  is  looked  upon  by  the  people  as 
the  head  of  the  administration  during  his  term,  and  the 

1  A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Senate  by  Senator  J.  Walter  Lambeth  to  amend  the  Constitution  so 
that  the  Governor  could  appoint  the  Secretary  of  State,  Auditor,  Treasurer,  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  and  Attorney  General,  but  on  motion  of  Senator  Lambeth,  action  was  deferred  indefinitely. 
Senator  Lambeth  introduced  another  bill  providing  for  the  appointment  of  certain  offices  by  the  Gov- 
^^oi,'  pu*  "t  was  also  deferred  indefinitely  on  motion  of  Senator  Lambeth.     Senate  Journal,  Session  1981. 

This  bill  also  provided  that  the  Governor  could  remove  appointees  from  office  for  incompetency  or 
misconduct  in  office.     Senate  Files,  Secretary  of  State's  Office. 


24  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

public  hold  him  accountable  for  the  conduct  of  the  officers 
appointed  by  the  Governor;  and  yet  by  the  Chinese-puzzle 
arrangement  through  which  these  boards  are  created  and 
perpetuated,  it  is  impossible  for  the  Governor  to  control 
them.  During  my  term  of  office  I  cannot,  until  near  its 
close,  under  the  present  law,  change  the  management  or 
policy,  except  through  moral  persuasion,  in  any  department 
of  the  State's  government,  or  at  any  of  its  institutions.  I 
believe  the  true  spirit  of  the  Constitution  intended  that  the 
Governor  should  have  the  power  to  control  the  administra- 
tion of  the  executive  branch  of  the  government,  except  as  to 
those  executive  powers  given  to  officers  elected  by  the 
people  and  responsible  to  the  people.  Legislative  inves- 
tigation and  correction  of  executive  departments  of  the 
government  is  proper  and  under  all  conditions  to  be  encour- 
aged, but  on  account  of  the  short  session  of  our  legislative 
body  the  Governor  should  have  the  power  to  remove  any 
officer  appointed  by  him  at  will.  I  desire  to  declare  to 
your  great  branch  of  the  government  that  any  power 
given  me  to  reorganize  and  administer  the  executive  branch 
of  the  State  government  will  be  exercised  not  in  faction- 
alism, but  in  the  interest  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State. 
I  think  it  would  be  most  wise  to  enact  a  general  statute 
allowing  the  Governor  to  call  for  the  resignation  and,  if 
not  forthcoming,  to  remove  any  executive  officer  appointed 
by  the  Governor;  and  in  the  future  no  term  should  be  fixed 
for  appointive  executive  officers.  The  man  holding  respon- 
sible government  positions  should  be  responsible  either  to 
the  people  or  to  the  official  head  of  the  executive  branch  of 
the  government.  Those  in  charge  of  every  institution  in 
the  State,  all  the  commissions  and  agencies  set  up  to 
discharge  the  executive  functions  of  our  government  and 
appointed  by  the  Governor  are  absolutely  independent  of 
any  action  which  he  may  take  until  near  the  expiration  of 
the  Governor's  term.  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  single 
institution  or  commission  which  I  could  reorganize  or  change 
the  policy  of  until  the  last  year  of  the  term  for  which  I 
have  been  elected  Governor,  and  yet  the  people  will  hold 
me    responsible   for   the    administration    of   the    executive 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  25 

branch  of  our  government.  I  believe  this  situation  has 
caused  a  lack  of  cooperation  and  unity  of  purpose  in  the 
executive  branch  of  our  government  destructive  of  energy 
and  vigor.  If  the  Governor,  the  supreme  head  of  the 
executive  branch  of  the  government,  ought  to  be  removed 
every  four  years,  it  does  seem  to  me  that  subordinate 
executive  officers  ought  to  go  out  with  him  and  allow  the 
Governor's  successor  the  privilege  of  selecting  his  own 
helpers  in  administering  the  government  during  his  term, 
and  not  confine  his  legal  power  to  tying  the  hands  of  his 
successor.  I  most  earnestly  ask  the  proper  committees  to 
formulate  proper  legislation  to  correct  this  evil,  and  if 
there  is  objection  to  giving  me  the  necessary  power  to 
organize  and  administer  the  executive  branch  of  the  State's 
government  during  my  term,  that  the  General  Assembly 
will  at  least  enact  legislation  which  will  enable  my  successor 
to  do  something  more  than  advise  and  persuade  those 
selected  by  me  for  him. 

I  confess  to  you  that  I  want  the  great  office  of  Governor 
freely  accorded  the  power  which  I  believe  the  makers 
of  our  Constitution  intended  it  to  exercise.  I  want  the 
power  in  order  that  I  may  use  it  with  energy  and  deter- 
mination for  the  people  and  the  greater  efficiency  of  the 
executive  branch  of  our  government;  but  if  the  power  is  not 
given  to  me  it  certainly  ought  to  be  given  to  my  successor. 

I  do  not  know  any  further  recommendations  to  make  to 
your  honorable  body.  If  any  other  should  occur  to  me 
during  your  session  I  shall  feel  free  to  come  before  you 
and  offer  them  orally  or  send  them  in  a  written  message; 
but  so  far  as  I  know  now,  the  recommendations  of  my 
inaugural  address  and  those  which  I  have  just  made  are  all 
that  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  make.  If  there  is  any  other 
subject  upon  which  any  committee  of  your  honorable 
body  or  any  individual  member  of  it  desires  the  Governor's 
opinion,  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  confer  with  you 
at  any  time. 

In  conclusion,  I  desire  to  say  that  the  people  of  the 
State  expect  from  this  General  Assembly  and  our  adminis- 
tration a  consummation  and  completion  of  the  patriotic 


26  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

constructive  work  that  our  people  have  been  laboring, 
praying  and  sacrificing  for  for  twenty-odd  years.  I  invoke 
a  spirit  of  courage  and  determination.  We  have  prepared 
through  labor,  sacrifice  and  self-denial  for  the  consummation 
of  our  sacred  and  patriotic  ambitions. 

These  are  my  recommendations,  and  may  God's  will 
about  them  be  done  in  your  honorable  body  as  it  is  done 
in  heaven. 


RECOMMENDING  DIRECTORATE  FOR 
INSTITUTIONAL  APPROPRIATIONS 

SPECIAL    MESSAGE 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  7,   1921. 

Members  of  the  General  Assembly: 

I  appear  before  you,  gentlemen,  with  profound  respect; 
not  that  respect  alone  which  the  Governor  of  the  State 
should  always  feel  for  the  legislative  branch  of  the  govern- 
ment, but  with  deep  respect  and  admiration  for  your  honor- 
able body,  awakened  by  the  great  record  which  you  have 
made  in  the  face  of  grave  duty.  Your  record  is  not  excelled 
by  that  of  any  General  Assembly  which  ever  convened  in 
any  State  in  the  American  Union.  I  am  profoundly  grateful 
to  you  for  the  high  manner  in  which  you  have  met  your 
great  responsibilities. 

But  I  appear  before  you  this  morning  to  call  your  atten- 
tion to  a  situation  which,  if  not  corrected,  may  largely 
destroy  the  noble  work  you  have  done  for  the  institutions 
for  our  unfortunate  and  defective  people,  and  for  the 
institutions  of  higher  learning,  and  to  implore  you  to 
remedy  the  trouble  before  you  adjourn. 

Under  the  law  as  it  is  now,  the  millions  which  you  have 
appropriated  to  the  long  list  of  institutions  for  the  un- 
fortunate, as  well  as  for  our  educational  institutions,  will 
be  expended  by  a  Building  Commission  and  a  State  arch- 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  27 

itect.  It  will  be  impossible  to  get  a  Building  Commission 
to  serve  without  pay,  or  for  nominal  pay,  and  supervise 
and  properly  direct  the  expenditure  of  all  these  millions, 
and  to  look  to  the  construction  of  all  the  buildings  involved 
in  the  program.  It  may  be  that  a  small  building  program 
might  be  well  looked  after  by  a  small  commission,  but  the 
great  program  for  which  you  have  provided  cannot  be 
carried  out  with  safety  by  a  small  commission  of  men,  and 
an  architect. 

I  want  earnestly  to  advise  the  immediate  repeal  of  the 
law  providing  for  a  Building  Commission.  ^  It  will  be 
impossible  to  secure  one  of  competent  ability  to  discharge 
its  duties  unless  a  large  salary  is  attached.  I  am  satisfied 
that  it  would  not  be  wise  to  entrust  this  whole  program, 
and  the  expenditure  of  all  this  money  to  a  small  commission 
of  men,  even  if  there  were  attached  a  large  salary.  I 
most  earnestly  urge  that  the  law  creating  a  Public  Building 
Commission  be  abolished,  and  that  the  trustees  and  manage- 
ment of  each  institution  to  which  appropriations  have  been 
made  for  building  purposes  shall  be  charged  with  the  duty  of 
expending  the  money  appropriated  to  their  institutions. 
It  will  be  easy  to  get  the  ablest  and  best  fitted  men  and 
women  in  North  Carolina  to  serve  on  any  one  of  the  boards 
at  these  institutions,  but  it  is  impossible  to  get  men  and 
women  of  the  character  and  ability  required  to  carry  out 
the  whole  program  without  large  salaries. 

I  most  earnestly  urge  that  you  do  not  put  all  of  your 
eggs  in  one  basket,  when  you  will  be  unable  to  do  as  Carnegie 
advised,  that  it  was  all  right  to  put  them  in  one  basket, 
provided  you  could  watch  the  basket. 

We  have  embarked  at  the  behest  of  the  people  of  North 
Carolina  upon  the  greatest  program  of  construction  and 
upbuilding  ever  undertaken  by  a  Southern  State,  and  those 
of  us  who  are  the  servants  of  the  people  in  this  sacred  and 
patriotic  work  ought  to  see  to  it  that  the  money  is  expended 
in  a  way  that  there  will  not  only  be  no  scandal,  but  that 
the  people  will  have  perfect  confidence  that  it  is  being  done 
with  the  utmost  care. 


'  The  Act  creating  this  Commission  was  repealed  by  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  passed  March  9, 
1921,  which  restored  to  the  various  institutions,  through  their  Boards  of  Trustees,  the  control  of  the 
building  program  at  the  institutions.    Public  Laws  of  North  Carolina  1921,  Chapter  183. 


28  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

I  further  urge  that  In  order  that  the  boards  at  these 
institutions  may  be  strengthened,  the  act  consoHdatIng 
the  asylum  directors,  and  providing  for  a  purchasing  agency 
be  aboHshed,  and  that  the  old  law  providing  for  a  board  of 
directors  at  each  of  the  institutions  embraced  in  that  act 
should  be  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  confirmed  by  the 
Senate,  be  revived.  Under  this  consolidated  policy  the 
directors  of  each  institution  have  been  reduced  to  three. 
I  think  the  number  too  small.  We  should  have  a  directorate 
as  large  as  is  usually  in  charge  of  a  high  class  institution 
doing  a  large  business.  We  can  get  men  and  women  of  the 
very  highest  order  of  ability  to  serve  the  State  on  the 
board  of  directors  of  these  institutions,  and  look  to  the 
proper  expenditure  of  the  vast  sums  you  have  appropriated 
for  their  enlargement. 

I  most  earnestly  plead  with  this  General  Assembly  not 
to  break  a  quorum  or  adjourn  until  this  legislation  has 
been  enacted,  and  until  I  have  had  the  opportunity  to 
make  the  nominations  for  the  new  directors,  and  let  the 
Senate  act  upon  them.  I  will  be  ready  in  a  few  hours 
after  the  legislation  is  enacted  to  name  the  new  directors, 
and  ask  the  Senate  to  confirm  them. 

If  this  legislation  is  enacted,  I  most  earnestly  believe 
that  we  will  have  made  a  record  which  will  be  approved 
both  by  the  conscience  and  judgment  of  North  Carolina, 
but  if  the  legislation  is  not  enacted,  I  frankly  confess  to 
you  that  I  do  not  see  any  way  to  safely  carry  through  our 
noble  purposes. 


INADEQUATE  FUNDS  TO  MAINTAIN 
SIX  MONTHS  SCHOOL 

CALLING    A    SPECIAL    SESSION    OF    THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  November  7,  1921. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

Believing  that  an  extraordinary  occasion  for  a  special 
session  of  the  General  Assembly,  such  as  is  referred  to  in 
Article  III  of  Section  9,  of  the  Constitution  of  our  State, 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  29 

has  arisen  and  now  exists,  as  hereinafter  set  forth;  and 
my  own  beUef  being  strengthened  by  the  advice  of  the 
Council  of  State,  duly  given  me  in  a  resolution  adopted  by 
the  Council  at  a  meeting  on  the  11th  day  of  October,  1921 : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  do  hereby  issue  this  proclamation,  calling 
your  honorable  body  to  meet  in  extraordinary  session  on 
Tuesday,  December  6,  at  11  o'clock,  a.m.,  in  the  State 
Capitol  at  Raleigh,  and  I  respectfully  request  that  the 
Senators  and  Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
assemble  in  their  respective  halls  on  the  day  and  hour 
mentioned,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  the  emergencies 
which  have  arisen  by  reason  of  the  fact: 

That  the  State  levy  of  thirteen  cents  on  the  one  hundred 
dollars  on  property  in  the  year  1920  proved  inadequate  to 
provide  a  sufficient  State  school  fund  to  pay  for  three  months 
of  the  school  term  in  the  various  counties,  as  the  law  for 
the  year  1920  obligated  the  State  to  do,  in  order  that  the 
common  schools  of  the  State  might  be  run  for  the  six 
months  term  required  by  the  Constitution,  thereby  creating 
a  deficit  of  about  ^700,000,  which,  under  the  existing  law, 
cannot  be  provided  for  either  by  taxation  or  the  exercise 
of  the  credit  of  the  State; 

And  for  the  further  reason  that  the  Municipal  Finance 
Act  enacted  by  your  honorable  body  at  your  regular  session 
in  1921,  was  declared  unconstitutional  by  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State,  whereby  many  of  the  towns  and  cities 
of  the  State  have  been  wholly  unable,  under  existing  laws, 
to  meet  such  current  expenses  as  they  deemed  wise,  or  to 
market  securities  which  they  deemed  necessary  for  the 
proper  administration  of  their  governments. 

My  judgment  is  that  the  difficulties  referred  to  cannot 
be  met  through  any  power  in  the  executive  office  of  your 
State,  and  being  duly  authorized  by  the  advice  of  the 
Council  of  State,  I  make  this  proclamation  in  order  that 
you  may  assemble  and  enact  such  legislation  as  you  may 
think  expedient  and  necessary  to  relieve  the  situations 
referred  to,  and  for  such  other  purposes  as  may  in  your 
judgment  merit  your  attention. 


30  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed.     Done 
in  the  city  of  Raleigh  this  the  seventh  day  of  Novem- 
[seal]  ber,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and   twenty-one,  and  in  the  one  hundred  and 
forty-sixth  year  of  our  American  Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


PROVIDE  FUNDS  FOR  SIX  MONTHS  SCHOOL 

SPECIAL    SESSION 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  6,  1921. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina: 

The  necessity  for  my  calling  your  honorable  body  in 
extraordinary  session  is  set  forth  in  the  call,  and  I  most 
respectfully  invite  your  consideration  of  the  two  matters 
therein  specifically  referred  to. 

Under  the  Constitution,  you  have  the  undoubted  right 
to  proceed  to  act  upon  any  other  matter  which,  in  your 
opinion,  merits  your  attention. 

I  do  not  deem  it  my  duty  to  make  any  recommendations 
to  you  other  than  to  ask  that  you  take  such  action  upon 
the  two  matters  mentioned  in  the  proclamation  calling 
you   together  as  you   deem  wise. 

The  great  program  which  you  provided  for  in  your  regular 
session,  I  hope,  is  being  administered  to  your  satisfaction. 
I  am  well  pleased  at  the  splendid  service  being  rendered  by 
the  various  boards,  commissions  and  other  executive 
agencies  charged  with  the  duty  of  working  out  your  great 
and   patriotic   designs. 

With  assurances  of  great  respect,  and  cordial  good  will 
for  the  entire  membership  of  your  honorable  body,  I  am, 
Most  respectfully  yours, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  31 

NOMINATIONS  AND  APPOINTMENTS 
SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SENATE 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  Adarch  7,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

In  compliance  with  Section  5004  of  the  Consolidated 
Statutes,  creating  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public 
Welfare,  I  make  the  following  nominations  ^  to  fill  two 
vacancies  on  that  board  for  a  six-year  term,  beginning 
April  1,  1921,  and  ask  your  honorable  body  to  confirm 
them: 

Mr.    Carey    J.    Hunter Wake    County 

Mrs.  Walter  F.  Woodard Wilson  County 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  8,  1921. 

Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  with  House  Bill  1545,  Senate  Bill  1300,  of  the 
Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  I  hereby  appoint^ 
the  following  to  be  directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at 
Morganton,  for  terms  of  two,  four  and  six  years,  from 
April  1,  1921,  as  indicated  below,  and  request  that  you 
confirm  these  appointments: 

Mr.  C.  E.  Brooks Henderson  County two  years 

Mr.  J.  H.  Giles Burke  County two  years 

Dr.  G.  S.  Kirby McDowell  County two  years 

Dr.  J.  M.  Belk Union  County four  years 

Mr.  C.  C.  Cranford Randolph  County four  years 

Mr.  John  M.  Scott Mecklenburg  County. .  .four  years 

Miss  Exum  Clement Buncombe  County six  years 

Mr.  Sloan  M.  Robinson. . .  .Gaston  County six  years 

Hon.  A.  M.  Scales Guilford  County six  years 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


iConfirmed  by  the  Senate,  March  8,  1921. 


32  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  with  House  Bill  1545,  Senate  Bill  1300,  of  the 
Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  I  hereby  appoint 
the  following  to  be  directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at 
Raleigh,  for  terms  of  two,  four  and  six  years,  from  April  1, 
1921,  as  indicated  below,  and  request  that  you  confirm  ^ 
these  appointments: 

Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown Wake  County two  years 

Mr.  James  H.  Bridges Vance  County two  years 

Mrs.  Marshall  P.  Williams. Duplin  County two  years 

Dr.  Leslie  B.  Evans Bertie  County four  years 

Mr.  Felix  Harvey Lenoir  County four  years 

Mr.  W.  H.  Sprunt New  Hanover  County,  .four  years 

Hon,  Walter  L.  Parsons.  .  .Richmond  County six  years 

Hon.  L.  R.  Varser Robeson  County six  years 

Mr.  John  F.  Wily Durham  County six  years 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  with  House  Bill  1545,  Senate  Bill  1300,  of  the 
Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  I  hereby  appoint 
the  following  to  be  directors  of  the  State  Hospital  at  Golds- 
boro,  for  terms  of  two,  four  and  six  years,  from  April  1, 
1921,  as  indicated  below,  and  request  that  you  confirm* 
these  appointments: 

Mr.  C.  P.  Aycdck Beaufort  County two  years 

Mr.  Claiborne  M.  Carr.  .  .  .Durham  County two  years 

Dr.  John  Daniel  Robinson  .  Duplin  County two  years 

Hon.  Nathan  O'Berry Wayne  County four  years 

Dr.  H.  M.  Horton Forsyth  County four  years 

Mr.  H.  C.  Queen New  Hanover  County,  .four  years 


^Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  March  8,  1921. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  33 

Hon.  F.  B.  McKinne Franklin  County six  years 

Mr.  W.  H.  Belk Mecklenburg  County. . .  .six  years 

Hon.  L.  M.  Blue Scotland  County six  years 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  8,   1921. 
Ge7itlemen: 

Pursuant  with  Section  5873  of  the  ConsoHdated  Statutes 
I  hereby  appoint  the  following  gentlemen  to  be  directors 
of  the  State  School  for  the  Blind  and  Deaf  at  Raleigh  for 
a  term  of  six  years  beginning  March  6,  1921,  and  respect- 
fully request  that  you  confirm  ^  these  appointments. 

Mr.  R.  S.  Busbee Wake  County six  years 

Dr.  W.  A.  Rogers Macon  County six  years 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Home Johnston  County six  years 

Hon.  A.  L.  McNeill Lee  County six  years 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  8,   1921. 
Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  with  House  Bill  1545,  Senate  Bill  1300  of  the 
Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  I  hereby  appoint  the 
following  to  be  directors  of  the  Caswell  Training  School, 
at  Kinston,  for  terms  of  two,  four  and  six  years,  from  April  1, 
1921,  as  indicated  below,  and  request  that  you  confirm  ^ 
these  appointments: 

Mr.  Charles  Dewey Wayne  County two  years 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Sitterson Lenoir  County two  years 

Mr.  A.  H.  Powell Granville  County two  years 

Dr.  M.  R.  Stephenson Northampton  County,  .four  years 

Mr.  James  P.  Bunn Nash  County four  years 

Mr.  W.  P.  Anderson Wilson  County four  years 


^Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  March  8,  1921. 
3 


34  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Dr.  I.  W.  Faison Mecklenburg  County. . .  .six  years 

Mr.  W.  P.  Parsons Anson  County six  years 

Dr.  J.  L.  McMillan Robeson  County six  years 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  6,  1921. 

Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  with  Chapter  40  of  the  Public  Laws  of  1921, 
entitled  an  act  "To  Transfer  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  the 
State  Tax  Commission  to  the  State  Department  of 
Revenue,"  I  have  appointed  Mr.  A.  D.  Watts  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Revenue,  for  a  term  of  four  years  from  May  1, 
1921,  and  request  that  you  confirm  ^  this  appointment. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Gover^ior. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

I  beg  to  submit  to  your  honorable  body  the  name  of 
George  Howard,  of  Edgecombe,  whom  I  have  appointed  to 
fill  the  unexpired  term  of  W.  H.  Sprunt,  of  New  Hanover, 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  State  Hospital 
at  Raleigh,  Mr.  Sprunt  having  resigned.  I  beg  to  request 
that  you  confirm  ^  Mr.  Howard's  appointment  to  succeed 
Mr.  Sprunt,  whose  term  would  have  expired  April  1,  1925, 
under  Chapter  183,  of  the  Public  Laws  of  1921. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

I  herewith  present  the  name  of  Dr.  S.  Westray  Battle,  of 
Buncombe,    whom    I    have    appointed    a    member   of   the 


'Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  December  7,  1921. 
^Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  December  8,  1921. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  35 

State  Geological  Board,  under  Section  6118  of  the  Con- 
solidated Statutes,  to  succeed  Robert  G.  Lassiter,  of 
Granville,  for  a  term  expiring  March  1,  1925,  Mr.  Lassiter 
having  resigned.  It  is  my  request  that  your  honorable 
body  confirm  ^   Dr.    Battle's    appointment. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

I  beg  to  submit  to  your  honorable  body  for  your  con- 
firmation, ^  the  following,  whom  I  have  appointed  directors 
of  the  State  Hospital  at  Morganton,  acting  under  Chapter 
183,  of  the  Public  Laws  of  1921: 

J.  R.  Boyd,  of  Haywood,  for  a  term  expiring  April  1,  1925,  succeeding 
J.  M.  Belk,  of  Union,  resigned. 

E.  P.  Wharton,  of  Guilford,  for  a  term  expiring  April  1,  1927,  suc- 
ceeding Alfred   M.    Scales,   of  Guilford,   resigned. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  8,  1921. 
Gentlemen: 

I  herewith  present  to  your  honorable  body  for  your 
confirmation  ^  the  name  of  William  C.  Wilkinson,  of  Meck- 
lenburg, appointed  by  me  as  a  member  of  the  State  Highway 
Commission  from  the  Sixth  District,  under  Chapter  2  of 
the  Public  Laws  of  1921,  as  the  successor  of  Word  H.  Wood, 
of  Mecklenburg,  whom  you  confirmed  at  your  last  regular 
session  for  a  term  expiring  April  1,  1925,  but  who  resigned. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


^Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  December  8,  1921. 


36  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


MESSAGE  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY,  1923 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  January  9,  1923. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly: 

Before  proceeding  with  the  recommendations  which  I 
appear  before  you  to  make,  I  desire  to  extend  to  the  member- 
ship of  your  honorable  body  my  very  hearty  congratulations 
upon  the  opportunity  before  you  to  commence  the  new 
year  by  service  to  North  Carolina.  The  opportunity 
before  you  to  serve  the  State  and  its  people  is  almost 
boundless.  You  succeed  the  greatest  General  Assembly 
,  which  has  assembled  in  the  United  States  in  forty  years. 
Many  of  its  members,  rich  in  service  and  experience  and 
strong  in  the  gratitude  of  their  countrymen,  have  been 
returned  with  you.  May  I  especially  congratulate  them 
upon  their  return,  and  say  that  I  am  deeply  thankful 
that  the  State  will  again  have  the  benefit  of  their  courage, 
wisdom  and  experience  in  legislation. 

The  State  expects  much  from  you,  gentlemen.  You 
were  selected  by  the  people  to  carry  on  for  them  the  most 
progressive  program  ever  undertaken  in  a  Southern  State 
of  this  Republic.  I  am  sure  you  will  not  disappoint  the 
high  expectations  of  your  people  and  listen  to  the  lamenta- 
tions of  the  expiring  Reactionary.  His  piteous  outcry  will  be 
heard  again  as  soon  as  the  breath  knocked  out  of  him  by 
the  last  election  can  be  recovered.  Lie  will  use  the  same 
arguments  he  has  employed  for  a  thousand  years,  and  will 
continue  to  use  them  until  enlightenment  and  progress  have 
evoluted  him  into  the  glorious  realm  of  the  Progressive. 
We  must  make  North  Carolina  do  the  duty  of  a  great  and 
enlightened  State.  The  Reactionary  has  been  crushingly 
defeated  in  North  Carolina,  and  the  Progressive  ordered  to 
lead  North  Carolina  forward. 

We  must  go  forward.  The  way  is  not  so  dark  as  It  was  two 
years  ago,  and  the  road  is  not  beset  with  so  many  dangers 
as  that  over  which  your  predecessors  led  North  Carolina  to 
glory  everlasting.  If  the  same  resolute  determination  and 
wisdom  in  interpreting  and  declaring  the  will  of  the  people, 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  37 

dominate  your  body,  as  dominated  the  last  Gene,fal  Assem- 
bly, the  victory  over  the  Reactionary,  who  would  put 
North  Carolina  in  the  bondage  of  ignorance  and  inefficiency 
to  the  enlightenment  and  efficiency  of  other  states  and 
countries,  will  be  complete  and  final. 

Gentlemen,  I  appeal  to  you  not  to  falter.  We  can  not 
go  on  unless  you  lead  the  way.  The  weakness  of  our 
American  system  of  government  has  b'een  the  failure  of 
the  states  to  discharge  the  high  duties  placed  upon  them 
under  our  great  American  scheme  of  government.  We 
can  never  have  good  government  in  this  country  until  the 
states  exercise  their  great  powers,  or  "rights,'  to  give 
modern  and  up-to-date,  progressive  government  in  the 
states.  North  Carolina  has  the  power  to  destroy  every 
weakness  which  affects  us,  except  such  as  is  the  common 
heritage  of  humanity.  But  it  can  only  exercise  this  power 
through  your  honorable  body.  We  have  written  glorious 
chapters  in  our  country's  history  for  states'  "rights," 
which  are  states'  powers.  Now,  the  period  has  come  for 
us  to  show  equal  nobility  in  the  use  of  states'  rights,  or 
powers.  We  must  use  the  power  for  progress  and  right- 
eousness if  we  expect  to  keep  the  power. 

What  must  we  do  to  progress.?  Fortify  and  extend  the 
great  program  of  the  last  General  Assembly  in  every 
particular,  and  especially  do  I  urge  that  you  go  forward  in 
the  health,  educational  welfare,  agricultural  experiment 
and  extension,  and  road  building  parts  of  the  program. 

INSTITUTIONS    FOR    DEFECTIVES    AND    UNFORTUNATES, 
AND    FOR    HIGHER    LEARNING 

The  last  General  Assembly  authorized  the  issue  of  six 
million  and  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  bonds  to 
enlarge  our  institutions  for  the  State's  unfortunate  and 
defective  people,  and  for  our  institutions  for  higher  learning. 

I  have  caused  the  Department  of  Commerce  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina  to  make  us  a  calculation  to 
show  what  sum  placed  at  interest  at  43/^  per  cent,  would 
redeem  these  bonds.  The  sum  required  will  be  sixty-two 
thousand  five  hundred   and   ninety-nine   (362,599)   dollars 


38  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

annually.  I  urge  you  to  take  from  the  general  revenue  of 
the  State  this  small  sum  and  place  it  in  a  sinking  fund  for 
their  redemption. 

I  hope  you  will,  "in  round  numbers,"  duplicate  the 
program  of  the  last  General  Assembly  for  permanent 
improvement  at  these  great  institutions  for  our  defective 
and  unfortunate  people  and  for  higher  learning.  Our 
revenue    prospects    will    amply   justify    it. 

This  sacred  work  must  go  on,  gentlemen.  Our  defective 
and  unfortunate  m.ust  be  cared  for.  Our  institutions  for 
higher  learning  must  be  further  enlarged  to  take  care  of 
the  ever-increasing  thousands  our  common  schools  are 
graduating    annually.     We    can    afford    it. 

Our  new  system  of  taxation  under  the  able  adminis- 
tration of  Colonel  A.  D.  Watts  has  produced  ample  revenue 
to  meet  the  relatively  large  appropriations  of  the  last 
General  Assembly,  including  all  interest  charges.  We  stood 
up  for  God  and  humanity  in  a  trying  hour  two  years  ago, 
and  God  blessed  North  Carolina  above  almost  every 
state  in  the  Union.  The  revenue  account  will  show  the 
largest  surplus,  when  credited  with  the  railroad  taxes  which 
have  not  been  paid,  and  with  the  income  taxes  for  this 
year,  which  could  not  be  computed  and  collected  until 
after  the  end  of  the  year,  in  the  history  of  the  State. 

If  you  issue  new  bonds  for  the  purpose  now  under  dis- 
cussion, I  also  urge  a  full  sinking  fund  from  the  general 
revenues  of  the  State  for  their  redemption.  Sixty-two 
thousand  live  hundred  and  ninety-nine  dollars  (362,599) 
set  aside  annually  will  redeem  a  duplication  of  the  last 
General  Assembly's  glorious  work  for  these  institutions. 
The  small  sum  of  one  hundred  twenty-five  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars  (3125,198)  set  aside 
annually  will  redeem  both  issues.  It  is  not  much  for  the 
good  it  will  do.  Twelve  and  one-half  per  cent  of  the  tax 
paid  on  insurance  premiums  in  the  State  will  pay  it.  There 
will  be  many  tax  payers  in  the  State  who  will  pay  enough 
taxes  each   to  pay  it. 

We  can  easily  carry  the  interest  on  the  full  amount  under 
our  present  revenue  bill  without  any  increase  in  taxation. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  39 

May  I,  gentlemen,  for  the  broken  and  defective  of  ev^ery 
description,  and  of  both  races,  appeal  to  you  to  let  North 
Carolina  do  the  duty  of  an  enlightened  and  Christian  state 
to  its  feeble-minded  children,  its  thousands  of  insane,  its 
poor,  suffering,  tubercular  people,  its  blind,  its  crippled 
children,  its  wrecked  and  morally  delinquent  girls  and 
boys,  and  to  those  M^ho  cannot  speak  or  hear  or  see? 

Those  who  will  pay  the  tax  under  the  new  revenue  bill 
will  approve.  Those  who  believe  in  the  religion  of  the 
Christian  will  approve. 

May  I,  also,  gentlemen,  appeal  to  you  on  behalf  of  the 
children,  the  boys  and  girls  of  North  Carolina,  to  go  forward 
with  the  additional  bonds  for  the  educational  institutions 
for  higher  learning.?  It  will  not  be  an  expenditure  in  the 
ordinary  sense,  but  an  investment  which  will  yield  profit 
more  than  any  other  the  State  could  make.  I  urge  at  least 
a  duplication  of  the  last  General  Assembly's  provision  for 
the  common  school  system  of  the  State. 

We  must  not  falter.  We  have  the  strength  to  take  the 
next  step  in  our  outlined  six-year  program.  God  carried 
us  through  the  dark  period  when  we  could  not  see  the  way, 
and  by  his  goodness  gave  us  the  strength  to  go  on  and  take 
the  next  step. 

ROAD    PROGRAM 

We  must  go  on  with  the  road  program.  The  people 
expect  it.     We   are   able  to  go  on. 

I  most  earnestly  recommend  that  you  authorize  the  issue 
of  fifteen  millions  additional  bonds  to  round  out  the  system, 
and  place  an  additional  tax  of  two  cents  per  gallon  on 
gasoline. 

I  then  recommend  that  you  set  up  a  sinking  fund  of  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  (3500,000)  per  year  to  be  applied 
to  the  payment  of  the  bonds  when  due;  one-half  of  it  from 
the  general  revenue  of  the  State,  and  the  other  half  from  the 
automobile  and  gasoline  tax.  This  will  not  be  adequate  for 
the  redemption  of  the  whole  sixty-five  millions,  but  it  will 
go  about  half  way.  The  first  bonds  are  serial,  and  commence 
to  fall  due  in  ten  years  in  equal  installments,  and,  of  course, 
will  require  a  much  larger  sinking  fund  than  if  they  were 


40  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

all  forty-year  bonds.  I  think  the  new  bonds  ought  to  be 
forty-year  bonds.  With  a  sinking  fund  of  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  annually  we  can  redeem  part  of  the  bonds 
and  refund  the  others,  if  we  do  not  want  to  pay  all.  But 
my  confident  hope  is  that  our  revenue  will  justify  enlarging 
this  fund  from  time  to  time  until  it  will  be  adequate  for 
their  redemption.  But  the  sinking  fund  mentioned  will  be 
sufficient  to  place  the  whole  transaction  on  a  very  high 
plane,  and  will  not  oppress  anybody,  or  embarrass  the 
State's  revenues. 

The  revenues  from  the  automobile  and  gasoline  tax  for 
six  months  of  this  year  amounted  to  33,222,741.71.  It 
will  go  over  four  millions  for  the  full  year  without  the 
increase  in  gasoline  tax  recommended. 

We  Vv^ill  require  the  two  cent  additional  on  gasoline  to 
help  pay  the  interest  on  the  new  bond  issue,  contribute  to 
the  sinking  fund  and  maintain  the  roads. 

I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  debate  the  road  program. 
It  is  approved  by  the  sovereign  people.  The  benefits  are 
universally  recognized. 

CONSTITUTIONAL    AMENDMENTS    LIMITING    THE    STATe's 
DEBT,    AND    PROTECTING    THE    SINKING    FUND 

I  most  earnestly  recommend  an  amendment  ^  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  limiting  the  power  of  the  State  to 
contract  indebtedness  to  five  per  cent  of  the  assessed  value 
of  the  State's  property;  and  a  second  amendment  ^  that 
when  the  General  Assembly  sets  up  a  sinking  fund  no  suc- 
ceeding General  Assembly  shall  divert  it  to  any  other 
purpose.  I  am  sure,  gentlemen,  that  these  amendments 
ought  to  be  submitted  to  the  people,  and  that  with  this 
done  and  the  sinking  fund  suggested  set  up,  we  will  be 
able  to  safely  carry  through  the  whole  progressive  program 
upon  a  lower  interest  basis  than  without  them. 

And  then  a  good  many  of  our  best  citizens  fear  that 
without  a  limitation  on  the  State's  power  to  contract  debt, 

1  Acting  on  this  recommendation  a  bill  was  introduced,  passed,  and  submitted  to  the  people  in  1924, 
whose  vote  made  it  a  part  of  the  State  Constitution. 

2  This  recommendation  was  also  acted  upon,  and  a  bill  was  passed,  but  was  amended  by  the  Special 
Session  of  1924  and  in  the  following  November  became  a  part  of  the  State  Constitution  by  a  vote  of 
the  people. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  41 

we  might  go  too  far  some  time.  Tlie  sinking  fund  statutes 
should  confine  the  investment  of  it  to  the  bonds  of  the 
United  States,  the  states  and  subdivisions,  but  should 
prohibit  loaning  it  to  any  department  of  the  State  govern- 
ment. It  would  be  unsafe  to  permit  buying  in  our  ov/n 
bonds  and  holding  them  as  other  bonds  are  held. 

But,  gentlemen,  I  do  not  think  the  duty  of  your  body 
will  be  fully  met  by  fortifying  and  extending  the  program 
so  gloriously  inaugurated  by  your  great  predecessor, 
splendid  as  that  would  undoubtedly  be.  There  are  other 
things  we  must  do  if  we  are  true  to  the  great  spirit  of 
progress  under  which  we  are  moving. 

completed  program  for  the  continued 
progress  of  the  state  suggested 

I  make  the  following  further  recommendations,  gentle- 
men, which  I  think  will  "round  out"  as  complete  a  program 
for  the  State's  development  and  upbuilding  as  I  can  now 
vision. 

GAME    AND    COMMERCIAL    FISH    INDUSTRY 

We  ought  to  replenish  our  great  streams  throughout 
the  State  with  game  fish,  and  give  modern  and  up-to-date 
cultivation  for  our  fish,  oyster  and  other  sea-food  industries. 

The  North  Carolina  inland  navigable  waters  are  the  finest 
in  the  Republic  for  sea-foods,  if  not  in  the  world.  They 
belong  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  subject  to  the 
United  States  government's  rights  in  navigation  upon 
them.  My  descriptive  powers  are  insufficient  to  convey  to 
those  of  you  who  are  not  familiar  with  them  a  general 
conception  of  the  immensity  of  these  waters. 

Currituck,  Croatan,  Roanoke,  Albem.arle  and  Pamlico 
sounds,  knit  together  by  the  inland  canal,  constitute  a 
great  body  of  water  from  four  to  twenty-five  miles  wide 
that  would  reach  from  here  to  Shelby.  Pamlico  Sound  is 
the  largest  one  in  the  United  States,  not  quite  so  long  as 
Long  Island,  but  with  more  water.  Running  into  these 
waters  are  great  rivers,  like  the  Roanoke,  the  Neuse,  the 
Pamlico,  the  Chowan,  the  Bay,  the  Pungo,  and  many  others, 
with  bays  and  other  little  sounds  too  numerous  to  mention. 


42  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  fisheries  upon  them  were  once  possibly  the  most 
valuable  in  the  United  States.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of 
acres  of  these  waters  are  happily  mixed  with  salt,  and 
make  the  home  of  the  oyster.  Sea-foods  of  every  variety 
known  to  our  climate  are  to  be  found  within  them.  Below 
Morehead  City  we  have  other  great  waters.  The  New 
River  in  Onslow  and  the  grand  old  Cape  Fear.  These 
waters  are  the  property  of  North  Carolina.  From  them 
we  ought  to  receive  a  great  State  revenue,  and  the  people 
in  twenty-four  or  five  counties  in  North  Carolina  ought  to 
gather  immense  riches  from  them.  The  area  covered  by 
these  waters  is  the  most  valuable  property  in  this  State, 
except  that  upon  which  our  towns  and  cities  stand,  with  the 
artificial  wealth  placed  upon  them  by  great  buildings,  etc. 
There  is  no  other  land  in  our  State  of  as  great  value,  and 
from  which  so  much  wealth  can  be  produced  as  that  covered 
by  these  immense  sounds,  bays  and  rivers. 

We  are  neglecting  this  property.  Before  we  placed  any 
police  power  over  them,  our  friends  to  the  north  of  us  came 
down  and  in  fleets  of  as  many  as  seventy  or  eighty  boats 
at  a  trip  dredged  our  streams  of  the  oysters.  They  took 
them  north  and  planted  them  in  Chesapeake  Bay  and  else- 
where. We  have  stopped  that,  but  we  were  too  late 
about  it. 

We  have  allowed  most  of  the  inlets  to  close  up  and  shut 
out  the  sea-fish  from  the  sounds  and  rivers.  Prosperous 
sections  there  have  been  almost  prostrated  by  it. 

Our  fishing  industry  can  be  revived  with  little  expense. 
The  oyster  waters  can  be  replenished  and  an  oyster  culture 
started  there  that  will  tremendously  contribute  to  the 
enrichment  of  the  whole  State,  and  produce  a  great  State 
revenue.  Oysters  can  be  planted  over  wide  parts  of  the 
area  mentioned  for  eight  or  ten  cents  per  bushel.  They 
will  yield  in  three  years  five  bushels  for  each  one  planted. 
But  when  culled  according  to  modern  knowledge  of  the 
industry,  and  only  the  large  ones  taken  out,  they  not  only 
yield  five  bushels  but  form  a  culture  which  will  never  end, 
if  properly  looked  after.     This  ought  to  be  done. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  43 

It  has  been  done  elsewhere,  as  well  as  here,  with  complete 
success.  It  is  no  longer  an  experiment;  it  has  been  tested 
out,  and  we  ought  to  plant  a  million  bushels  of  oysters 
annually  for  three  years  in  these  waters.  It  would  take 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars  (3300,000)  to  do  it,  but  no 
individual  has  an  opportunity  to  make  such  an  investment 
as  that  would  be  to  North  Carolina.  We  received  twelve 
thousand  dollars  (312,000)  in  oyster  fees  last  years  at  two 
cents  a  bushel,  with  the  small  area  and  sorry  culture  we 
now  have  there.  We  would  not  only  get  our  money  back 
in  revenues  to  the  State,  but  an  immense  profit,  and  an 
enlarged  culture  there  on  modern  scientific  and  up-to-date 
lines  that  would  yield  for  all  time  great  riches  to  the  people 
of  that  section. 

We  ought  to  open  the  inlets  and  let  the  fish  and  the  salt 
water  into  our  sounds  and  rivers  in  greater  abundance. 
It  can  be  done  economically. 

Facts  and  figures  have  been  placed  before  the  Budget 
Commission  about  it,  and  will  be  placed  before  the  appro- 
priate committees  of  your  body.  Details  and  particulars 
cannot  be  easily  dealt  with  here,  but  in  an  orderly  way 
they  will  be  presented  through  your  committees  to  you. 

These  waters  are  not  only  valuable  for  oysters  and  fish, 
but  for  clams,  crabs,  scallops;  by  the  way,  these  scallops 
are  now  bringing  three  dollars  a  gallon,  and  the  State 
received  eleven  thousand  dollars  (311,000)  in  revenue  from 
the  fees  charged  and  received  for  gathering  scallops  there 
last  year.  The  scallop  crop  gathered  and  sold  from  More- 
head  City  was  worth  more  than  the  cotton  crop  of  Carteret 
County  last  year. 

All  North  Carolina  is  interested  in  the  proper  conser- 
vation and  improvement  of  the  fish,  oyster  and  other  sea- 
food waters  which  belong  to  the  State.  It  will  take  about 
3100,000  to  open  the  inlets  which  ought  to  be  opened  down 
there,  including  the  waters  in  Onslow  County,  which  while 
still  open,  are  subject  to  obstructions  which  do  not  permit 
enough  salt  water  to  go  up  New  River,  and  are  affecting 
one  of  the  finest  natural  oyster  homes  in  the  world. 


44  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

We  ought  to  raise  fish  in  the  non-navigable  streams  of 
the  State,  which,  while  not  the  property  of  North  Carolina, 
yet  call  for  the  exercise  of  our  police  power  and  to  which 
the  State  ought  to  give  modern  and  up-to-date  attention. 

We  have  the  finest  inland  waterways  in  the  Republic, 
all  things  considered;  both  the  navigable  and  non-navigable 
waters.  They  are  diffused  over  such  a  wide  area  of  the 
State,  and  into  almost  every  section.  I  call  your  attention 
to  some  maps  which  I  have  caused  to  be  prepared  by 
Dr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  with  the  kind 
assistance  in  coloring  and  printing  them  of  the  State 
Highway  Commission.  If  you  will  permit  me,  I  am  going 
to  have  one  put  up  in  each  house  of  your  honorable  body 
for  your  inspection.  Please  examine  it.  I  think  you  will 
be  proud  of  our  waters. 

In  these  non-navigable  rivers  and  in  many  of  the  navi- 
gable ones,  we  have  allowed  the  game  fish  to  become  almost 
extinct.  The  other  great  states  of  the  Union  are  filling 
their  streams,  navigable  and  non-navigable,  with  game 
fish.  The  cost  is  small,  and  the  pleasure  and  food  value  to 
the  people  immense.  The  unenlightened  Reactionary 
thinks  this  is  all  foolishness  because  he  is  not  informed  of 
the  wonderful  work  being  done  in  other  states.  In  many  of 
them  twenty-five  or  thirty  hatcheries  are  being  operated. 

An  ordinary  game  fish  hatchery  can  be  set  up  on  any  of 
our  rivers  for  about  four  thousand  (34,000)  dollars,  each, 
and  operated  by  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollar  a  month 
employee.  We  ought  to  move  up  to  date,  and  abreast  of 
the  times,  and  put  a  little  fish  hatchery  upon  every  river 
in  the  State.  Let  the  man  who  runs  it  be  a  fish  policeman 
for  the  waters  round  about,  and  look  to  the  enforcing  of 
the  law.  We  ought  to  charge  a  tax  of  ^1.00  annually  for 
fishing  off  one's  own  premises,  with  hook  and  line  in  North 
Carolina  to  help  finance  it.  Some  of  the  states  raise  large 
sums  of  money  from  such  a  tax.  Some  of  them  charge 
more  than  one  dollar. 

I  most  earnestly  advise  an  investment  of  five  hundred 
thousand    (3500,000)  ^    dollars    in    opening    of    our    inlets, 

'  Five  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  Fisheries  Commission  and  for  im- 
provements of  the  fish  and  oyster  industries. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  45 

planting  oysters,  building  and  operating  hatcheries,  In- 
cluding hatcheries  upon  the  streams  of  Central  and  Western 
North  Carolina.  The  Industry  will  easily  finance  Itself, 
and  carry  the  interest  after  we  get  under  way. 

I  most  earnestly  recommend  that  this  General  Assembly 
provide,  not  for  wasting  money  or  burdening  this  State 
with  expense,  but  for  making  an  investment  In  the  con- 
servation of  North  Carolina's  valuable  property;  It  will 
be  shamefully  wasteful  not  to  do  It.  We  allowed  the 
most  valuable  Inlet  to  the  fisheries  of  Eastern  North  Caro- 
lina to  close  up  when  if  we  had  expended  five  thousand 
dollars  to  prevent  it  five  years  ago,  It  could  have  been  saved. 
It  will  now  cost  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  open  It.  It 
ought  to  be  done,  and  if  it  Is  done,  wealth  in  fish  and  salt 
water  necessary  to  the  life  of  the  clam  and  oyster,  and 
kindred  Industries,  would  pour  into  our  sounds  and  rivers 
that  v/ould  more  than  pay  for  It  the  first  year. 

Another  great  inlet  Is  about  to  close  which  a  few  thousand 
dollars  will  save. 

I  urge  action  by  this  General  Assembly,  complete  and 
sufficient  not  only  for  the  protection  and  proper  culture 
of  the  great  commercial  fish  and  sea-food  sounds  and 
rivers  of  the  East,  but  which  will  replenish  the  streams 
all  through  Western  North  Carolina  with  game  fish,  and 
furnish  protection  for  them. 

The  game  fish  will  add  Immensely  to  the  already  wonder- 
ful attractions  of  our  State  to  the  tourist  and  pleasure 
seeker,  and  thereby  increase  our  wealth.  This  applies 
to  the  East  as  well  as  the  West. 

We  ought  to  have  three  additional  departments  or 
agencies  of  State  government: 

A  Department  of  Commicrce  and  Industry.  ^ 

A  Department  of  Banking.  ^ 


1 A  bill  was  introduced  to  create  a  Department  of  Commerce  and  Industries,  but  was  never  passed. 
House  Journal,  1923. 

2  A  similar  recommendation  was  made  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1921  (Senate  Journal,  1921),  but 
the  bill,  which  was  introduced  following  that  recommendation,  never  passed.  The  House  and  Senate 
Journals  do  not  show  that  any  bill  was  introduced  to  create  a  Banking  Department  at  the  1923  session. 
The  State  e.'iaminers  of  banks  remained  under  the  direction  of  the  Corporation  Commission. 


46  Papers  of  Caiv^eron  Morrison 

A  Department  of  Water  Transportation,  to  be  known 
as  "The  North  CaroHna  Ship  and  Port  Commission."  ^ 

With  your  kind  indulgence  we  will  consider  them  in  the 
order  named. 

department  of  commerce  and  industry 

We  ought  to  make  every  important  group  of  our  people 
feel  that  it  has  a  seat  and  a  representative  in  the  company 
of  those  which  are  directing  the  executive  and  adminis- 
trative branch  of  the  government.  We  have  already  set 
up  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  the  Department  of 
Labor,  and  the  Fisheries  Commission.  They  have  all 
justified  their  establishment.  What  these  departments 
have  done  for  agriculture,  labor  and  the  fish  industry,  a 
Department  of  Commerce  and  Industry  could  do  for  our 
commerce,  our  manufactures,  and  industries — other  than 
farming. 

We  wisely  give  first  consideration  to  our  farmers  and  our 
laboring  people,  but  we  should  not  longer  appear  to  keep 
from  our  highest  councils  that  great  group  of  our  people 
engaged  in  commerce,  manufacturing  and  industries  other 
than  farming.  This  group  now  pays  most  of  the  tax  from 
which  we  meet  the  growing  expenses  of  the  State  govern- 
ment. 

The  department  would  not  cost  much.  It  would  be 
paid  for  largely  by  the  commercial  and  manufacturing 
classes.  And  it  is  necessary  for  the  best  and  broadest 
development  of  our  commercial  and  manufacturing  life. 

It  would  gather  data  and  information  upon  which  our 
hundreds  of  patriotic  chambers  of  commerce  and  other 
commercial  organizations  could  advertise  our  State's  advan- 
tages In  commerce  and  manufacturing.  It  would  gather 
data  and  find  our  weaknesses,  and  help  lead  to  their 
remedies. 


'A  bill  was  introduced  to  create  a  State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission,  but  was 
amended  until  the  result  was  that  a  commission  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  make  a  thorough 
investigation  of  the  possibilities  of  water  transportation,  and  report  its  findings  to  the  next  General 
Assembly.  House  Journal,  1921.  PuhUc  Laws  of  North  Carolina  1923,  Chapter  91^.  In  August,  1924,  at 
an  extra  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  a  bill  creating  a  State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Com- 
mission was  passed,  and  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  the  following  November,  but  the  people  voted 
against  it.     Election  returns  1924. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  47 

It  would  coordinate  the  activities  of  our  chambers  of 
commerce  and  other  commercial  bodies  throughout  the 
State  upon  matters  of  state-wide  importance  to  commerce 
and  industry. 

It  would  be  of  very  direct  benefit  to  the  whole  State  by 
the  practical  declaration  its  establishment  would  make 
that  North  Carolina  is  friendly  to  commerce  and  industry. 

The  farmer  and  laborer  would  not  complain  of  the 
small  cost  of  the  department  because  they  know  of  the 
tremendous  revenue  derived  from  the  manufacturing  and 
commercial  classes.  The  surest  way  to  reduce  tax  on  the 
farmer  in  any  county  is  to  bring  industry  to  help  him  pay 
the  tax. 

May  I  very  earnestly  urge  you,  gentlemen  of  the  General 
Assembly,  to  establish  the  Department  of  Commerce  and 
Industry,  and  let  us  place  an  able  secretary  at  the  head  of 
it  to  give  our  commercial  and  manufacturing  people  the 
service  which  every  enlightened  and  progressive  govern- 
ment is  now  according  them,  and  as  a  declaration  to  all  the 
world  that  North  Carolina  is  hospitable  to  commerce, 
manufacturing  and  industry  of  every  class,  as  well  as  to 
agriculture  and  labor. 

A    BANKING    DEPARTMENT 

We  ought  to  establish  in  my  judgment,  without  delay, 
a  Banking  Department,  and  place  an  able  commissioner 
at  the  head  of  it.  It  is  of  the  very  highest  importance 
that  we  should  have  up-to-date  and  competent  supervision 
and  inspection  of  the  banks  doing  business  in  the  State. 
It  is  most  important  to  the  people  who  furnish  the  deposits. 
It  is  important  to  the  banks. 

This  duty  is  now  with  the  Corporation  Commission. 
It  does  not  cost  the  taxpayers  anything.  The  banks  pay 
for  it,  and  they  ought  to  have  such  service  as  would  give 
them  the  highest  possible  standing  and  credit.  They  are 
not  getting  it. 

The  great  mass  of  the  people  do  not  know  we  have  bank 
supervision  and  control  because  it  is  under  a  commission 
not  associated  with  this  duty  in  the  public  mind.     The 


48  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Corporation  Commission  is  composed  of  three  splendid 
gentlemen,  but  without  experience  which  would  fit  them  for 
this  work.  Their  other  official  duties  are  great  enough  for 
any  three  men. 

We  ought  to  have  a  commissioner  of  banking  in  the 
State  of  such  standing  and  experience  that  when  he  says 
a  bank  is  all  right,  our  people  can  put  their  money  in  it 
with  confidence  and  security.  This  thing  done  right  would 
tremendously  increase  the  credit  of  our  banks  in  the  great 
money  centers,  and  enable  our  banks  to  give  our  people  the 
benefit  of  their  greater  capacity  to  re-discount  the  credits 
of  our  people. 

I  very  earnestly  hope  that  personal  considerations  will 
not  be  allowed  to  enter  into  this  very  vital  matter.  The 
gentlemen  composing  the  Corporation  Commission  are 
very  superior  men,  but  if  they  keep  the  railroads  doing 
business  in  the  State  under  proper  regulation  and  control, 
by  exercise  of  their  own  power  and  by  fighting  our  battles 
before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  and  then 
regulate  justly  and  intelligently  the  price  of  all  public 
utilities,  I  am  quite  sure  they  will  earn  their  salaries  and 
the  gratitude  of  the  State. 

Three  men,  however  able,  cannot  possibly  properly 
discharge  all  the  duties  now  placed  upon  the  three  men 
composing  the  Corporation  Commission.  I  very  earnestly 
recommend  that  all  their  power  over  banks  be  transferred 
to  a  bank  commissioner,  and  that  the  banks  be  required  to 
pay,  as  they  do  now,  the  entire  cost  of  their  supervision  and 
control. 

SHIP    AND    port    commission    DEPARTMENT 
OF    WATEP.    TRANSPORTATION 

Water  transportation  is  cheaper  than  rail  transportation. 
This  is  recognized  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission, 
and  most  basic  freight  rate-points  are  water  towns  where 
rail  meets  water  competition.  From  such  basic  points 
the  freight  rate  is  radiated  to  the  interior  points  by  a 
combination  of  the  rate  to  the  basic  point  plus  the  local 
rate  from  the  basic  point  to  the  destination  of  the  freight. 
Under  the  law  the  interstate  rate  cannot  exceed  the  com- 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  49 

bination  to  the  basic  point  plus  the  rate  from  there  to  the 
destination  of  the  freight.  So,  water  transportation  is 
desirable  to  any  State,  not  because  of  its  own  cheapness 
alone,  but  because  it  makes  cheaper  rail  freight  rates  to  all 
the  towns  with  water  transportation  and  to  all  towns 
nearer  to  them  than  to  any  other  basic  freight  rate,  or 
water  transportation  town. 

Our  freight  rates  are  nearly  all  based  on  the  rates  to  the 
Virginia  cities  plus  the  rates  from  the  Virginia  cities  to  our 
towns.  This  results  in  a  high  freight  rate  from  and  to  North 
Carolina  and  in  our  being  commercially  hand-cuffed  by 
Virginia  cities,  because  we  cannot  get  freight  from  or  to 
anywhere  without  paying  the  rate  to  the  Virginia  cities 
plus  the  rate  from  such  Virginia  city  to  the  North  Carolina 
town  to  or  from  which  the  freight  moves.  We  are  allowed 
a  certain  deduction  called  a  "differential,"  that  is  a  small 
crumb  thrown  to  us  in  recognition  of  our  enslaved  con- 
dition. Through  this  system  we  have  largely  builded  the 
Virginia  cities  and  in  commercial  life  they  call  us,  and  we 
are   known   as,    "their  territory." 

We  have  no  basic  freight  rate  points  in  North  Carolina. 
All  rates  are  hoisted  to  us  from  some  other  more  fortunate 
state.  So  we  must  do  business  necessarily  as  the  bondmen 
of  the  states  where  the  base  of  our  freight  rates  is  situated. 

We  have  no  water  transportation  worthy  of  the  name. 
So  we  have  no  basic  freight  rate  towns,  because  there  is 
no  water  competition. 

When  we  demand  equality  we  are  told  conditions  are 
different  and  that  v/e  have  all  we  are  entitled  to  under  the 
law;  that  our  water  transportation  is  merely  potential  and 
not  actual;  that  there  is  no  water  transportation  for  the 
railroads  to  meet,  and  therefore,  they  have  not  asked  for 
cheap  rates  to  any  North  Carolina  city;  that  the  cheapest 
basic  rates  near  us  are  the  Virginia  cities'  rates,  and,  there- 
fore, they  base  our  rates  on  them,  which  is  all  we  are 
entitled  to.  They  give  us  a  little  "tip"  called  a  "differen- 
tial," and  tell  us  to  get  out. 

We  are  helpless,  and  will  be  forever  unless  we  make  ou 
water  competition   actual  instead  of  merely  potential.     , 


50  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

What  are  we  going  to  do  about  it?  Remain  Virginia 
territory,  or  become  free  and  independent?  I  am  for 
freedom.  The  Reactionary  and  the  railroad  lobbyist  will 
whisper,  "you  cannot  achieve  it;  you  have  always  been 
slaves  commercially  and  must  remain  so." 

The  railroads  doing  business  in  North  Carolina  could 
not  help  us  if  they  desired  to,  because  they  would  be  stopped 
as  Henry  Ford  was  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission 
when  he  tried  to  cut  rates  on  his  own  railroad.  But  we 
can  produce  such  a  change  in  our  basic  condition  that  the 
railroads  doing  business  in  our  State  will  beg  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission  to  let  them  reduce  rates  on  the 
"Hornets'  Nest"  State  to  save  them  from  destruction,  and 
they  will  tell  the  Commission  that  conditions  are  such  that 
they  are  entitled  to  the  relief.  They  will  be,  and  they  will 
get  it. 

How  can  we  do  this?  By  establishing  water  competition 
in  the  towns  and  cities  of  our  State  situated  where  it  can 
be  established,  of  a  character  so  dangerous  that  the  rail- 
roads will  ask  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to 
let  them  meet  it.  This  is  exactly  what  made  the  cheap 
rates  everywhere  they  exist.  This  is  the  w^ay  the  Virginia 
cities  acquired  the  rates  with  which  they  long  ago  "hand- 
cuffed" us. 

Suppose  we  establish  water  transportation  from  Wilming- 
ton, Fayetteville,  New  Bern,  Washington,  Edenton,  Eliza- 
beth City,  Belhaven,  Morehead  City,  Beaufort,  Southport, 
and  other  water  towns,  with  barges  and  small  boats  feeding 
them  from  twenty-five  counties  situated  on  navigable 
waters.  What  would  happen?  The  water  rates  would  be 
very  much  cheaper  than  railroad  rates.  The  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission  could  not  help  it,  and  would  not 
desire  to.  The  boats  would  take  the  freight  cheap  to  the 
water  towns,  and  it  would  go  out  over  our  good  roads  on 
trucks  for  seventy-five  miles  around.  The  incoming  freight 
would  land  on  the  cheap  water  rates  in  the  town,  and  for  a 
radius  of  seventy-five  miles  our  people  on  our  own  good 
roads  with  trucks  would  go  in  and  get  it. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  51 

About  this  time  our  railroad  friends  would  commence  to 
"holler  for  help."  We  need  not  worry  about  the  freight 
rates.  They  would  go  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission with  great  lamentations,  crying  out  that  the  good 
roads  and  trucks  and  water  competition  were  ruining  them; 
that  they  must  be  allowed  to  lower  rates  and  treat  their 
former  slaves  like  freemen  and  the  equal  of  Virginians  and 
Marylanders.  I  hope  the  Commission  will  have  mercy 
on  them  and  give  them  their  legal  right  to  meet  competition 
and  fight  for  their  life.  When  the  cheap  rail  rates  are 
estabUshed  they  will,  as  a  matter  of  law,  radiate  to  every 
point  nearer  to  them  than  the  Virginia  cities. 

I  urge  this  General  Assembly  to  set  up  for  all  the  people 
of  the  State  water  competition  with  the  railroads.  This 
is  the  way  all  cheap  rail  rates  have  been  obtained.  We 
can  do  it.  We  must  do  it,  if  we  are  to  have  an  equal  chance 
with  the  other  seaboard  states  in  commerce. 

We  create  on  our  farms  and  in  our  factories  more  tonnage 
than  any  state  from  Pennsylvania,  going  south,  to  Texas. 
We  move  less  of  our  tonnage  to  market  from  our  own 
waters  than  any  seaboard  state.  We  have  a  long  seaboard 
front,  and  more  miles  of  navigable  inland  sounds  and  rivers 
than  any  other  state  in  the  Union.     Why  not  use  them^.? 

Along  these  waters  are  the  finest  farms  in  the  Union, 
paying  $S  per  bale  to  get  cotton  to  Boston  or  New  York, 
from  where  it  can  be  sent  to  France,  Germany,  or  England 
for  less  than  31.25  per  bale.  Capable  of  producing  enough 
food  stuff  to  feed  Massachusetts,  but  unable^  to  move  it 
on  account  of  heavy  rates  and  sorry  rail  service. 

We  must  strike.  The  times  are  propitious  for  heroic 
action.  The  world,  for  the  first  time,  is  full  of  cheap  ships. 
The  dangers  of  old  Hatteras  are  destroyed  by  the  com- 
pletion of  the  inland  canal  from  Boston  to  Morehead  City. 
Our  tonnage  is  immense,  in  spite  of  all  our  difliculties. 
The  railroads  are  trying  now  to  raise  rates  on  us  to  an 
amount  vaulting  into  the  millions  annually.  The  danger  is 
ominous.  Maxwell,  and  the  other  members  of  the  Corpo- 
ration Commission,  with  Judge  Clark,  formerly  of  the 
Interstate   Commerce   Commission,    as   chief   counsel,    are 


52  Papers  of  Cameron  Morriso 


N 


making  a  great  fight,  but  the  issue  is  in  doubt.     We  are 
fortunate  in  having  the  brilHant  Maxwell  to  lead  this  fight. 

Eastern  North  Carolina  is  an  agricultural  and  commercial 
section.     It  is  hand-cuffed  commercially. 

Give  me,  gentlemen,  two  millions  of  dollars  to  establish 
some  North  Carolina  state-owned  terminal  facilities,  and  to 
purchase  a  fleet  of  ships;  then  give  me  the  authority  to 
operate  them,  and  I  promise  you  to  save  the  State  more 
money  annually  than  it  costs  to  run  the  State  government 
now,  and  to  make  it  commercially  free  and  independent. 

I  appeal  to  you  to  create  the  North  Carolina  Ship  and 
Port  Commission,  with  appropriate  and  ample  powers  to 
acquire  terminals  by  lease  or  purchase,  and  to  acquire  and 
operate  a  fleet  of  passenger  and  commerce-carrying  ships. 

We  should  act  without  delay.  The  cheap  ships  can  be 
had  now,  and  it  is  important  to  act  promptly. 

Let  me  appoint  the  commissioners,  and  the  Senate 
confirm  them.     I  promise  you  a  great  commission. 

Let  the  bonds  issue  when  the  commission  says  in  writing 
to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  State  that  they  are  ready 
to  proceed. 

If  you  think  caution  requires  It,  insert  a  provision  that  if 
the  commission  finds  It  cannot  arrange  the  practical  details 
in  a  way  their  judgment  approves,  they  may  report  their 
findings  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  State,  and  they 
may.  If  they  think  wise,  suspend  further  action  until  the 
next  meeting  of  your  honorable  body. 

They  say,  "Give  us  the  details."  We  are  ready  to  place 
them  before  your  committee,  when  appointed,  through 
practical  men  acquainted  with  the  situation,  the  waters, 
the  ships,   and   freight  rates. 

Water  transportation  and  good  roads  and  truck  trans- 
portation, competing  with  rail  transportation  will  save  this 
State  more  money  before  the  first  serial  bond  is  due,  ten 
years  from  their  Issue,  than  both  the  roads  and  ship  company 
will  cost  the  State,  and  in  addition,  build  ten  cities  in  the 
Eastern  and  Cape  Fear  section  of  the  State. 

You  hazard  little,  and  the  possibilities  are  Immense. 
The  hazard  is  two  millions,  and  the  prospects,  ten  millions 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  •  53 

profit  annually.  But  we  could  not  lose  anything  like 
two  millions  before  we  quit. 

I  am  satisfied  the  boat  line  would  pay  in  its  direct  operat- 
ing account,  and  I  know  it  would  if  the  North  Carolina 
Corporation  Commission  will  use  its  undoubted  power  in 
making  rail  rates  from  the  water  towns  into  the  State. 

The  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  if  it  will,  can 
force  through  joint  bills  of  lading  to  be  issued,  and  if  they 
did,  as  I  belicA^e  they  would,  the  boat  line  would  make 
more  money  until  the  railroads  gave  us  justice  in  freight 
than  any  corporation  of  like  size  in  the  State. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  we  can  win  with 
the  boat  line  and  state-owned  port  facilities,  and  I  beg  your 
prompt  consideration  of  the  whole   subject. 

If  we  cannot  find  relief  through  this  plan,  then  I  urge 
you  to  evolve  from  your  own  councils  a  plan  through 
which  we  can  be  relieved  from  the  difficulties  I  have  men- 
tioned. The  duty  of  finding  a  remedy  is  yours,  not  mine. 
I  offer  my  best  thought  on  the  subject.  If  you  do  not 
approve  my  recommendation,  then  I  beg  you  to  give  the 
State  a  better  one. 

Our  commerce  must  not  forever  languish.  We  must 
not  forever  remain  Virginia  territory  commercially. 

PERORATION 

Gentlemen,  I  have  finished.  These  are  my  recommen- 
dations, accompanied  with  my  reasons  for  making  them. 

Whatever  you  may  do  with  them,  please  consider  them 
as  the  very  soul  of  a  Governor  who  loves  his  State,  and  whose 
chief  passion  is  for  greater  strength,  power,  goodness  and 
glory  for  North  Carolina. 


54  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


PRESS  REPORTS  BY  A.  J.  MAXWELL 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  February,  2,  1923. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly: 

A  situation  has  arisen  about  the  financial  affairs  of  this 
State  which,  in  my  opinion,  makes  it  my  duty  to  come  before 
you  and  submit  the  remarks  and  information  which  I  am 
about  to  address  to  you. 

An  officer  of  the  State  of  North  CaroHna,  holding  a 
commission  of  this  State  for  a  great  and  honorable  position, 
a  position  which  he  has  held  for  a  long  while,  having  before 
his  election  to  this  high  office  served  the  State  in  another 
important  capacity,  has  made  an  assault  upon  the  fiscal 
system  of  this  State  and  upon  the  financial  condition  of 
this  State  which  must  receive  from  this  body  grave  and 
prompt  consideration. 

I  have  given  little  attention,  and  I  suppose  you  have 
given  little,  to  the  many  false  and  misleading  statements 
made  by  that  portion  of  the  press  of  North  Carolina,  so 
hostile  to  the  Progressive  element  of  this  State  and  this 
administration  that  fairness  cannot  be  expected  from  it; 
but  when  an  officer  of  the  State  makes  such  a  statement 
as  Mr.  A.  J.  Maxwell  of  the  Corporation  Commission 
published  in  the  press  of  the  State  this  morning,  it  must 
receive  from  those  in  authority  prompt  and  fearless 
consideration. 

If  Mr.  Maxwell's  statement  is  true,  the  Treasurer  of 
North  Carolina  has  made  to  this  body  and  to  me  an  un- 
truthful report.  If  the  report  of  the  Treasurer  of  North 
Carohna  is  true,  this  officer  of  our  State,  eating  the  bread 
of  North  Carolina,  has  made  an  untruthful  statement 
which  tends  to  vitally  and  injuriously  affect  the  credit  of 
North  CaroHna  in  an  hour  when  its  credit  is  vital  to  the 
noble  and  patriotic  purposes  of  the  people  of  this -State. 
I  want  to  ask  of  this  body  a  prompt  and  fearless  investi- 
gation.    Wherever  the  wrong  lies,   place  it. 

The  Treasurer  of  North  Carolina  made  a  report  to  me 
which  I  transmitted  to  you.     In  that  report,  he  covered 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  55 

the  period  of  the  fiscal  year  ending  last  July,  which  it 
was  his  duty  to  do  under  the  law.  In  that  statement,  and 
in  a  letter  transmitting  it  to  me  he  says: 

The  statement  covering  actual  revenue  operation  shows  a  deficit 
of  ^1,853,895.41. 

I  inquired  of  Mr.  Moody,  of  the  Treasury  Department, 
again  this  morning,  if  that  statement  is  correct.  He  has 
declared  to  me  that  it  is  correct.  Mr.  Maxvv^ell  in  his 
published  statement  says  there  is  a  prior  deficit.  What 
character  of  report  to  this  General  Assembly  of  the  condi- 
tion of  this  State  can  this  be  which  gave  the  actual  condi- 
tion of  the  Treasury  at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  last  July, 
if  at  the  end  of  another  and  prior  year  there  was  an  addi- 
tional deficit  not  disclosed.?  It  would  be  a  false  report. 
We  are  dealing  with  the  fiscal  year.  If  there  is  another 
deficit  prior  to  that  given,  it  is  a  serious  matter. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  every  recommen- 
dation which  I  made  to  you,  every  recommendation  made 
by  the  Budget  Commission,  is  founded  upon  the  absolute 
truth    of   the   Treasurer's    report. 

Political  enemies,  inspired  by  malice  and  venom,  seeking 
to  injure  by  misrepresentation  the  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  undertake  to  show  that  I  have  made  a  statement 
here  to  you  that  was  not  the  truth,  and  in  their  effort  to 
establish  their  charge  and  discredit  this  State  and  affect 
Its  financial  status  and  credit,  they  omit  to  mention  the 
fact  in  their  publication  that  your  Budget  Commission  is 
not  an  Executive  Commission,  but  a  Legislative  Commis- 
sion, composed  of  the  Hon.  R.  A.  Doughton,  former  Chair- 
man of  your  Finance  Committee,  and  In  wisdom  and 
character,  and  in  devotion  to  truth  and  fairness  the  equal 
of  any  living  North  Carolinian;  from  the  Senate,  represented 
on  the  Finance  Committee,  that  devoted  churchman  and 
brilliant  statesman.  Senator  Varser  of  Robeson  County, 
and  representing  not  me,  but  you  and  North  Carolina^ 
and  under  oath;  on  the  part  of  the  House,  the  Hon.  W.  n! 
Everett,  probably  the  most  beloved  of  all  North  Carolinians, 
and  an  able  business  man;  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  on  the 


56  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Appropriations  Committee,  ex-Senator  McCoin,  one  of  the 
best  business  men,  and  one  of  the  most  conscientious  of 
public  servants,  as  well  as  an  able  lawyer;  and  the  minority 
party  represented  by  Ex-Senator  Dewar  of  Cherokee,  a 
graduate  of  the  Naval  Academy  and  an  educated  man,  as 
fine  a  man  as  the  Republican  party  could  find  in  North 
Carolina. 

They  made  a  report  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty, 
upholding  every  statement  I  made  to  you  in  my  address 
before  you.  And  now  this  officer  of  North  Carolina,  in  the 
statement  to  which  I  refer,  makes  no  recognition  of  that 
vital  and  important  fact,  but  he  and  his  co-worker  in 
fellowship  in  a  conspiracy  against  me,  make  no  reference 
to  that  fact. 

These  men,  not  minions  of  mine,  but  the  servants  of  this 
body,  have  reported  the  same  thing  that  I  declared.  Why? 
In  the  mad  partisanship  that  assails  my  life,  they  hope  to 
make  a  few  people  think  the  Governor  has  done  something 
wrong,  but  they  cannot  make  the  people  believe  that  the 
Hon.  R.  A.  Doughton,  W.  N.  Everett,  R.  S.  McCoin, 
L.  R.  Varser  and  R.  A,  Dewar  have  done  something  wrong. 

Now,  my  friends,  the  fact  is  that  I  am  not  the  Treasurer 
of  North  Carolina;  I  never  appointed  the  Treasurer  of 
North  Carolina.  The  people  of  this  State  elected  him. 
In  some  quarters  the  Governor  is  held  responsible  for 
everything  done  in  the  State  unsuccessfully,  and  given  no 
part  in  the  successful  accomplishment  of  anything  done  in 
the  State.  I  submit  that  B.  R.  Lacy  in  manhood  is  the 
peer  of  any  man  whose  life  has  ever  touched  mine.  I 
believe  his  report  is  absolutely  true.  If  it  is  not,  why  assail 
me  about  it.?  How  do  I  become  responsible  for  Lacy's 
error  ? 

If  it  is  the  truth,  then  what?  I  said  to  you,  and  the 
Budget  Commission  has  said  to  you,  that  crediting  his 
account  with  the  levied  but  uncollected  taxes,  income, 
railroad,  and  other  taxes,  the  cash  book  or  money  box 
deficit  shown  by  his  report  would  be  changed  to  the  largest 
surplus  ever  declared  in  the  financial  affairs  of  this  State. 
If  that  report  is  not  true,  then,  gentlemen  of  the  General 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  57 

Assembly,  we  are  all  the  innocent  victims  of  the  Treas- 
urer's statement  of  the  deficit  shown  by  his  operating 
account. 

What  is  the  report  of  the  Treasurer?  It  is  in  no  sense  a 
statement  of  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the  State;  it  is  simply  a 
statement  of  the  actual  receipts  paid  into  that  office,  and 
the  actual  disbursements  paid  out  of  that  office.  It  takes 
no  account,  and  it  is  not  its  business  to  take  account,  of 
assets  in  the  nature  of  bills  receivable.  The  Treasurer 
gives  you  the  actual  condition  of  the  cash  book  account  on 
the  first  day  of  July.  He  names  it  at  the  mentioned 
figure.  Outstanding  at  that  time  and  uncollected  were 
millions  of  levied  but  uncollected  taxes;  the  actual  facts 
are  in  the  report  of  your  Budget  Commission.  Mr.  Max- 
well says  "there  is  another  deficit  back  of  that  reported  by 
Mr.  Lacy." 

Mr.  Moody  says  that  under  Bickett's  administration 
there  was  used  against  bonds  being  sold  for  permanent 
improvements  for  institutions  about  31,800,000,  and  re- 
placed when  bonds  were  sold.  They  paid  it  out  of  operating 
accounts.  When  they  sold  the  bonds  they  put  it  back  in 
the  Treasury,  and  Mr.  Maxwell  has  discovered  that,  and 
says  it  is  a  deficit. 

I  did  not  know  about  that  transaction.  It  is  simply  the 
way  the  Treasurer's  office  runs,  and  I  will  not  stop  here 
either  to  commend  or  criticize  it.  It  makes  no  difference. 
They  keep  every  item  of  money  that  passes  through  their 
office.  I  am  not  responsible  for  it;  the  Budget  Commission 
is  not  responsible  for  it.  I  am  not  the  Treasurer.  Mr. 
Maxwell  declares  that  the  fiscal  year  Mr.  Lacy's  report 
should  cover  six  months  in  the  following  fiscal  period, 
and  now  he  figures  up  a  deficit  in  the  operating  account  of 
over  five  millions  of  dollars.  He  knows  what  an  operating 
account  is.  The  account  is  credited  with  what  may  be 
called  one  year's  taxes,  and  charged  two  years'  expenses, 
and  he  has  totally  disregarded  outstanding  taxes  due  the 
State.  The  period  covered  in  Mr.  Lacy's  report  is  the 
period  fixed  by  law. 


58  Papers  of  Cameron  Morriso 


N 


If  this  deficit  is  correct,  and  is  five  millions,  but  it  is  not; 
if  the  Treasury  Department  tells  the  truth  in  its  report 
and  in  its  statement  to  me  this  morning;  and  if  it  is  credited 
with  all  the  taxes  levied  for  the  period  covered  by  Maxwell's 
statement,  it  would  be  large  enough  to  wipe  out  every 
dollar;  and  he  makes  no  mention  of  it,  and  publishes  it  in  a 
period  when  North  Carolina  is  marketing  its  bonds  in  an 
effort  to  carry  out  your  progressive  purposes. 

Members  of  the  General  Assembly,  I  urge  upon  you  that 
you  ascertain  the  facts  and  the  truth  about  the  deficit  in 
the  Treasurer's  office  at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  you  have 
required  your  officers  to  deal  with.  They  are  trying  to  run 
things  so  as  to  charge  this  administration  with  four  years 
operating  expense  and  credit  it  with  three  years  income. 
The  year  I  was  inaugurated  Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
we  changed  the  fiscal  system  of  this  State  to  a  great  modern 
and  just  system,  and  he  shows  his  rancor  about  that.  We 
levied  no  ad  valorem  taxes  whatever  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  State  the  first  year.  We  levied,  but  we  could  not 
collect  any  income  taxes  until  the  year  was  out,  and  we 
found  out  how  much  the  taxes  would  be.  How  could  we 
levy  income  taxes  and  collect  them  before  the  year  was  out, 
and  the  income  of  the  people  ascertained .?  There  is  nothing 
but  one  year  of  income  taxes  collected  against  two  years' 
expenses  because  last  year's  taxes  could  not  be  computed 
until  the  year  was  out.  Reports  have  been  sent  out  and 
returns  will  soon  be  received.  We  collected  in  round 
numbers  two  and  one-half  millions  from  income  taxes 
last  year.  Every  intelligent  North  Carolinian  knows  that 
last  year  we  made  far  more  money  than  the  year  before  that, 
and  the  estimate  placed  upon  the  income  taxes  of  last  year 
is  three  and  one-half  millions.  We  do  not  know  exactly 
what  it  will  be,  but  from  the  best  information  we  can  get, 
it  is  estimated  at  that.  This  is  all  that  can  be  done.  None 
of  this  is   credited  on  Maxwell's   statement. 

We  have  just  won  a  legal  battle  with  the  railroads.  The 
railroad  taxes  have  never  been  collected  for  the  first  year 
or  the  last,  and  now  this  State  ofiicer  gives  out  a  statement 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  59 

calculated  to  show  that  we  owe  five  millions,  and  does  not 
give  credit  for  any  of  those  levied  but  uncollected  taxes. 

What  is  the  truth?  Find  it.  They  say  they  want 
"barebone  facts."  They  would  not  publish  them  to  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  if  they  had  them,  under  the  present 
administration  of  this  State.  "Barebone  facts" — take 
Lacy's  report  and  the  report  of  the  Budget  Commission 
signed  by  men  of  exalted  character.  The  bone-dry  facts 
are  that  B.  R.  Lacy,  one  of  the  finest  proponents  of  the 
Presbyterian   religion,   has   reported   the  truth. 

Your  duly  set  up  and  constituted  committees  are  entitled 
to  respect,  and  not  publications  of  the  character  to  which 
I  refer.  You  have  Appropriations  and  Finance  committees 
of  your  own  choosing.  The  charge  is  that  last  year  under 
the  evil  influences  of  your  Governor  you  appropriated  five 
million  dollars  more  money  than  you  levied  taxes  to  pay. 
It  is  not  the  truth,  and  I  demand  that  this  man  be  exposed 
in  this  slander  of  the  State  whose  bread  he  eats. 

I  thank  you,  gentlemen. 


NOMINATIONS  AND  APPOINTMENTS 
SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SENATE 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  January  10,  1923. 
Gentlemen: 

I  hereby  submit  to  your  honorable  body  the  name  of 
Andrew  M.  Kistler,  of  Morganton,  Burke  County,  whom  I 
have  appointed  as  a  member  of  the  State  Highway  Com- 
mission, representing  the  Eighth  District,  in  the  place  of 
John  C.  McBee,  resigned,  subject  to  your  confirmation.  ^ 

I  respectfully  request  that  you  confirm  the  appointment 
of  Mr.    Kistler. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


^Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  January  10,  1923. 


60  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  February  22,  1923. 
Gentlemen: 

I  herewith  submit  the  following  and  ask  your  honorable 
body  to  confirm  *  their  reappointment  as  members  of  the 
North  Carolina  Highway  Commission  for  a  period  of  six 
years  from  April  1,  1923,  pursuant  with  the  provisions  of 
Chapter  two.  Public  Laws  of  1921. 

John  E.   Cameron,   Kinston Second  District 

W.    A.    McGirt,     Wilmington Third     District 

John   Sprunt  Hill,   Durham Fourth  District 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  1,   1923. 
Gentlemen: 

I  herewith  submit  to  your  honorable  body  the  following 
names  of  gentlemen  whom  I  have  reappointed  as  members 
of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare: 

Wm.  A.  Blair Forsyth  County,  Winston-Salem 

A.    W.    McAHster Guilford    County,     Greensboro 

I  also  submit  the  name  of  W.  L.  Hutchins  of  Davidson 
County,  Lexington,  whom  I  have  appointed  as  a  member 
of  the  above  mentioned  Board  to  succeed  the  late  Carey  J. 
Hunter,  of  Wake  County. 

I  respectfully  request  your  honorable  body  to  confirm  ^ 
these  appointments. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


'Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  February  23,  1923. 
2Confirmed  by  the  Senate,  March  2,  1923. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  61 

SALARIES  AND  WAGES  PAID  IN  THE 
EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Raleigh,  N.   C,  January  26,  1923. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly: 

As  required  by  Section  6098  of  the  Consolidated  Statutes, 
I  herewith  report  to  your  honorable  body  the  salaries  and 
wages  paid  in  the  Executive  Office: 

Cameron  Morrison Governor 

36,500  per  annum   salary   and  3600  per  annum   traveling 

expenses. 
William  H.   Richardson Private    Secretary 

33,000  per  annum  salary. 
Margaret  V.  Willis Executive   Secretary 

31,800  per  annum  salary. 
Mamie  C.  Turner Executive  Clerk 

31,800  per  annum  salary. 
Roach  Farrar Porter 

321  per  week  wages. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


CALLING    SPECIAL  SESSION  OF  THE 
GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  16,  1924. 

Gentlemen: 

Believing  that  an  extraordinary  occasion  for  a  special 
session  of  the  General  Assembly,  such  as  is  referred  to  in 
Article  III  of  Section  nine,  of  the  Constitution  of  our 
State,  has  arisen  and  now  exists,  as  hereinafter  set  forth; 
and  my  own  belief  being  strengthened  by  the  advice  of  the 
Council  of  State,  duly  given  me  in  a  resolution  adopted 
by  the  Council  at  a  meeting  on  the  16th  day  of  June,  1924: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  do  hereby  issue  this  proclamation,  calling 


62  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

your  honorable  body  to  meet  in  extraordinary  session  on 
Thursday,  August  7th,  at  11  o'clock,  a.m.,  in  the  State 
Capitol  at  Raleigh,  and  I  respectfully  request  that  the 
Senators  and  Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
assemble  in  their  respective  halls  on  the  day  and  hour 
mentioned,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  the  emergencies 
which  have  arisen  by  reason  of  the  fact: 

That  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
State  relative  to  the  State's  sinking  fund  might  be  con- 
strued to  prevent  the  placing  of  any  part  of  the  revenue 
derived  from  the  tax  on  licenses  to  motor  machines  and 
gasoline  into  the  sinking  fund,  and  that  its  submission: to 
the  people  in  its  present  form  will  be  hurtful  to  the  credit 
of  the  State  to  such  a  serious  extent  as  makes  it  necessary 
for  the  General  Assembly  to  consider  a  correction  thereto 
before  it  is  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  people  for  adoption; 

And  for  the  further  reason:  That  the  freight  rates  now 
being  paid  by  the  people  of  this  State  are  unjustly  high, 
and  that  the  carriers  of  freight  in  a  rate  readjustment 
proceeding  pending  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission are  asking  for  increases  which  would  place  a 
further  burden  upon  the  people  of  the  State  aggregating 
approximately   ten   millions   of   dollars   annually; 

And  whereas,  the  State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation 
Commission,  appointed  at  the  last  regular  session  of  the 
General  Assembly,  after  prolonged  consideration  of  the 
matter,  have  recommended  that  the  State  develop  certain 
conveniences  to  encourage  water  transportation  from  and 
to  the  State,  and,  under  certain  circumstances,  establish  a 
line  of  coastwise  freight  carrying  ships,  and  have  expressed 
the  opinion  that  through  these  means  alone  can  the  State 
be  protected  and  lower  freight  rates  obtained; 

And  whereas,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  protect  the 
credit  of  the  State  that  the  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
relating  to  the  sinking  fund  shall  be  so  changed  as  to  make 
it  clear  that  certain  portions  of  the  fund  derived  from  the 
automobile  and  gasoline  tax  may  be  placed  in  a  sinking 
fund  for  the  redemption  of  the  bonds  as  we  are  now  doing, 
but  could  not  do  if  the  Constitution  was  amended  as 
proposed; 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  63 

And  whereas,  it  is  of  supreme  interest  to  the  welfare  of 
this  State  that  docking  and  terminal  facilities  shall  be 
provided  at  a  number  of  our  towns  and  cities  situated  on 
navigable  waters,  and  that  in  the  event  private  parties 
cannot  be  induced  to  do  so,  that  the  State  shall  lease,  or 
buy  and  operate  lines  of  ships  for  the  transportation  of 
commerce,  in  order  that  the  only  competition  recognized 
by  law  for  railroad  transportation  will  be  available  to  the 
people  of  the  State. 

I,  'therefore,  make  this  proclamation  in  order  that  you 
may  assemble  and  enact  such  legislation  as  you  may 
think  expedient  and  necessary  to  relieve  the  situations 
referred  to,  and  for  such  other  purposes  as  may  in  your 
judgment    merit    your    attention. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed.     Done 
in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  this  sixteenth  day  of  July, 
[seal]  in   the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-four,  and  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty- 
ninth  year  of  our  American  Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


AMENDMENT  AND  WATER  TRANSPORTATION 

message  to  special  session 

Raleigh,  N.   C,  August  7,   1924. 

Gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly: 

I  am  sorry  that  my  sense  of  duty  required  me  to  call  you 
here  in  extra  session  during  this  hot  summer  weather,  but 
I  am  sure  you  will  recognize  that  it  could  not  be  avoided 
when  you  hear  with  particularity  my  reasons  for  doing  so. 

The  proposed  amendment  to  our  State  Constitution 
enacted  by  you  in  your  regular  session  could  not  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  of  the  State  in  its  present  form  without 


64  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

serious  peril  to  the  credit  of  the  State  in  respect  to  its  sale 
of  bonds  for  the  construction  of  highways.  Soon  after 
the  adjournment  of  the  regular  session  the  defect  in  this 
proposed  amendment  to  our  Constitution  was  discovered 
by  the  attorney  upon  whose  opinion  we  were  selling  the 
highway  bonds,  as  well  as  by  some  of  those  who  were 
heavily  investing  in  them.  This  presented  a  very  serious 
difficulty,  and  it  was  only  overcome  by  the  State  Treasurer 
and  myself  assuring  them  that  the  amendment  would  not 
be  presented  to  the  people  in  its  present  form,  although 
it  might  require  a  special  session  of  the  General  Assembly 
to  prevent  it.  We  could  not  have  continued  the  sale 
of  our  highway  bonds  without  heavy  loss  in  their  price 
but  for  making  this  promise. 

The  defect  to  which  I  refer  is  in  the  proposed  amend- 
ment's provision  prohibiting  putting  into  the  sinking 
fund  for  the  redemption  of  the  highway  bonds  any  revenue 
received  from  a  special  tax  levied  for  that  purpose,  and 
requiring  that  all  of  such  sinking  funds  should  be  taken 
from  the  general  revenues  of  the  State.  It  was  feared 
this  would  prevent  using  any  part  of  the  revenue  derived 
from  the  gasoline  tax  and  for  licenses  to  motor  vehicles, 
being  placed  in  such  funds.  This  was  not  intended  by  you, 
I  am  sure.  It  was  not  intended  by  the  draftsman  of  the 
proposed  amendment. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  correct  it.  This  can  only 
be  done  by  you,  and  this  extra  session  would  have  been 
imperative  for  this  purpose  if  there  had  been  no  other 
extraordinary  occasion  for  it. 

AMENDMENT  ^ 

I,  therefore,  most  earnestly  recommend  that  the  amend- 
ment proposed  be  repealed,  and  that  the  one  first  adopted 
by  you  at  your  regular  session  be  formally  reenacted  and 
submitted  to  the  people  of  the  State. 

I  am  going  to  assume  that  argument  in  support  oi  this 
recommendation  is  not  necessary.  I  am  sure,  you,  gentle- 
men,  do   not  desire  to   make   it   impossible  to  use  funds 

J  This  amendment  was  passed  at  the  1923  session  of  the  General  Assembly.    See  note  on  page  40. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  65 

derived  from  the  special  taxes  upon  gasoline  and  motor 
machines,  and  not  required  for  interest  or  upkeep,  to  redeem 
the  highway  bonds. 

Before  leaving  this  subject  I  desire  to  digress  for  a 
moment  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  bonds  author- 
ized and  being  issued  and  sold  by  the  State  for  the  con- 
struction of  highways  are  serial  bonds,  and  that  our  pro- 
vision for  a  sinking  fund  from  which  to  meet  these  serial 
obligations  is  without  precedent  in  the  issue  of  bonds  by 
states  of  the  Union.  But  inasmuch  as  the  serial  obliga- 
tions do  not  commence  to  mature  until  ten  years  from  the 
date  of  the  issuance  of  the  bonds,  the  State  has  wisely 
commenced  to  put  by  funds  in  order  that  these  serial 
obligations  may  be  met  without  any  possibility  of 
oppression. 

But  if  the  serial  payments  had  to  be  made  commencing 
at  once,  the  income  from  tax  on  gasoline  and  license  taxes 
are  amply  large  for  us  to  extract,  after  paying  the  interest, 
the  serial  payments  required. 

state  ship  and  water  transportation  commission  1 

But,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  I  have  asked 
you  to  assemble  for  another  high  and  extraordinary  service 
to  the  State,  namely:  consideration  of  the  report  of  the 
Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission,  appointed  by 
me  and  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  Senate  branch  of 
your  honorable  body,  pursuant  to  legislation  enacted  by 
you  in  your  regular  session. 

As  you  will  recall,  I  asked  you  for  authority  to  proceed 
with  the  Commission's  report  and  findings,  if  favorable 
to  the  undertaking,  and  if  approved  by  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  State  without  further  grant  of  authority  from 
you.  In  your  greater  wisdom  you  refused  this  grant  of 
power  to  your  Chief  Executive  ofiicer,  and  required  the 
report^  to  be  submitted  to  the  General  Assembly  for  final 
disposition.  You  were  not  asked  by  me,  and  you  did  not 
consider  going  ahead  with  the  undertaking  until  the  Com- 

See  nSe^in  pagr^e"^  ^^®  ^*^*^  ^^'^  ^^'^  ^^^^^'^  Transportation  Commission  waspassed  in  1923  Session. 


66  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

mission  appointed  by  me  and  confirmed  by  the  Senate 
branch  of  your  honorable  body  had  looked  into  the  matter 
under  oath,  and  made  a  favorable  recommendation.  Then 
I  did  ask  for  authority  to  proceed  without  further  reference 
to  you.  You  were  sovereign  in  the  matter  and,  of  course, 
your  will  had  to  be  done. 

The  question  naturally  arose  whether  the  report  should 
be  submitted  to  you  in  extraordinary  session  or  held  in 
abeyance  and  submitted  to  the  next  regular  session  of  your 
honorable  body.  I  am  strongly  of  the  opinion  that  your 
body,  having  commenced  the  consideration  of  the  subject 
matter  involved,  and  every  man  of  you  having  given  more 
or  less  consideration  to  it,  during  the  regular  session,  and 
from  time  to  time  since,  you  were  better  prepared  to 
dispose  of  it  wisely  than  the  next  regular  session  would  be. 
The  next  regular  session  would  take  it  up  for  the  first  time, 
officially  speaking,  when  they  meet  in  a  short  session  with 
more  legislative  business  to  attend  to  than  can  ever  be 
quite  satisfactorily  done  in  sixty  days.  The  majority  of 
the  members  will  be  new,  and  the  State  would  lose  the 
benefit  of  the  more  mature  and  thoroughly  considered 
judgment  which  you  can  give  the  subject. 

And,  then,  gentlemen,  I  believe  I  am  justified  in  thinking 
you  expected  to  dispose  of  it  yourselves.  It  was  the 
general  understanding  that  after  the  report  you  would 
come  back  and  act  upon  it.  You  ordered  copies  of  the 
report  sent  to  yourselves  and  not  to  members  of  the 
next  General  Assembly,  and  I  think  you  expected  that 
it  would  be  disposed  of  by  you  in  an  extraordinary 
session.  You  know  as  much  about  it  as  any  succeeding 
body  will  ever  know,  and  I  think  more. 

Therefore,  I  beg  you  to  proceed  with  your  consideration 
of  it,  and  take  such  action  as  in  your  judgment  the  welfare 
of  the   State   requires. 

The  responsibility  for  action  is  upon  you.  It  is  my  duty 
only  to  recommend.  It  is  yours  to  act  after  a  consideration 
of  all  my  recommendations  and  of  all  such  arguments  as 
I  may  employ  in  support  of  my  recommendations. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  dl 

CAPE    FEAR   AND    YADKIN    VALLEY    RAILROAD 

Solemnly  mindful  of  my  high  responsibility  to  the 
whole  people  of  the  State,  I  confidently  recommend  to  your 
honorable  body  that  you  enact  the  necessary  legislation  to 
put  into  effect  the  recommendations  of  the  State  Ship  and 
Water  Transportation  Commission  with  the  least  possible 
delay,  in  so  far  as  the  report  relates  to  water  ways  and  water 
carried  commerce;  and  that  you  further  authorize  the 
Governor  of  the  State  to  appoint  a  commission  to  represent 
the  State  in  an  effort  to  overcome  by  every  legitimate 
means  the  destruction  of  the  old  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  as  a  railway  entity;  that  this  Commission 
be  empowered  to  take  every  necessary  legal  step  to  cause 
the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad  to  be  restored 
as  an  independent  line  or  at  least  operated  as  one  continuous 
whole,  and  that  if  it  is  found  necessary  and  expedient  for 
the  State  to  purchase  said  road  in  order  to  have  its  independ- 
ence or  continuous  operation  as  one  established  line,  for 
the  Commission  to  ascertain  if  it  can  be  purchased,  and  if  ^so, 
at  what  price,  and  that  the  findings  of  said  Commission 
shall  be  promptly  reported  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  State,  and  by  the  Governor  transmitted  to  the  General 
Assembly. 

It  is  not  true  that  the  recommendations  of  the  State 
Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission  with  reference 
to  the  development  of  our  waterways  are  dependent  upon 
the  ability  of  the  State  to  purchase  the  Cape  Fear  and 
Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,  or  the  construction  of  an  inde- 
pendent fine.  The  Commission  does  advise  the  acquisition 
of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad  property  or 
the  construction  of  a  new  line,  but  it  does  not  base  its  other 
recommendations  upon  the  success  of  the  recommendation 
with  reference  to  the  railroad. 

We  cannot  purchase  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley 
Railroad  unless  those  who  own  it  will  sell  it  to  us,  and  at 
a  price  the  State  is  willing  to  pay. 

If  successful  in  the  action  at  law  now  pending  before  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  in  nullifying  the  illegal  and 
unjust  dismemberment  of  this  North  Carolina  incorporated 


68  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

public  carrier,  the  property  may  be  sold  again  as  a  whole, 
and  in  such  contingency  the  State  can  take  action  in  the 
matter. 

I  directed  the  suit  ^  to  be  instituted  because  I  verily 
believe  the  dismemberment  of  this  road  was  in  cunning 
defiance  of  Judge  Simonton's  decree,  -  under  which  it  was 
sold  and  without  any  authority  whatsoever  from  North 
Carolina  to  divide  and  operate  the  road  in  two  parts,  as 
was  done. 

It  would  be  better  for  the  State  if  it  was  operated  as  an 
independent  line;  it  would  be  better  even  if  it  was  operated 
only  as   a   continuous   line,   though   not  independent. 

The  Executive  branch  of  your  government  and  the 
Department  of  Justice  are  doing  all  that  can  be  done  to 
overcome  this  ancient  wrong  to  North  Carolina  and  protect 
the  people. 

It  would  be  best  for  the  State  if  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  was  reestablished  as  an  independent  line 
and  finally  made  a  part  of  some  great  western  system,  but 
we  cannot  buy  it  unless  those  who  own  it  will  sell  it  to 
us,  and  we  are  powerless  in  the  matter  if  the  courts  con- 
summate the  wrong  done  many  years  ago  by  its  dismember- 
ment. The  only  power  we  will  have  then  is  by  private 
treaty,  or  to  get  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission 
to  use  its  great  moral  power  to  upset  the  sale  and  dis- 
memberment, and  have  it  operated  either  as  a  continuous 
line  or  grouped  with  some  other  independent  system, 

I  desire  to  notify  you  that  through  the  ablest  talent  I 
can  acquire  I  am  moving  not  only  before  the  courts  of  the 
State,  but  as  soon  as  their  decision  is  handed  down  I  am 
ready  to  move  with  celerity  in  every  way  which  able  counsel 
can  devise  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  people  in  the  miatter. 

If  we  lose  in  the  case  before  the  courts  I  am  ready  with 
the  best  talent  I  can  obtain  to  present  the  matter  with  all 
possible  power  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commis- 
sion and  to  beg  them  to  order  the  only  relief  they  are  able  to 
give  us. 

1  The  State  lost  its  suit  before  the  Supreme  Court,  after  which  a  suit  was  started  in  the  Federal  Court, 
but  the  State  again  lost  its  suit.    A  notice  of  appeal  was  filed,  but  no  further  action  has  been  taken. 

2  See  82  Federal  Reporter,  page  345,  and  87  Federal  Reporter,  page  393,  Also  see  "The  Cape  Fear 
and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,"  by  Roland  B.  Eutsler,  North  Carolina  Historical  Review  Volume  II, 
page  427. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  69 

I  think  the  commission  of  the  character  suggested  would 
be  imposing  and  give  dignity  and  power  to  the  State's 
program  about  the  matter. 

But,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  as  much  as  I 
sympathize  with  the  determination  of  some  of  our  people  to 
undo  the  wrong  committed  upon  the  people  of  this  State  by 
the  dismemberment,  without  authority  of  law,  and  contrary 
to  the  judgment  of  the  court,  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad,  I  want  to  declare  with  all  the  emphasis 
I  can  command  that  overcoming  this  is  not  vital  to  the 
development  of  water  carried  commerce  from  and  to  our 
State.  It  would  be  helpful,  and  I  favor  the  most  aggressive 
action  consistent  with  orderly  procedure  and  justice  to  have 
it  operated  as  an  independent  line  and  if  possible,  finally 
grouped  with  some  great  western  road;  but,  gentlemen, 
we  must  not  forget  that  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley 
Railroad  was  operated  for  years  as  an  independent  and 
continuous  line,  and  yet  it  did  not  help  us  appreciably 
in  obtaining  just  freight  rates  because  we  did  not  have 
docks,  warehouses  and  other  terminal  facilities,  and  ships 
moving  from  the  Wilmington  terminus  of  the  road.  It 
would  not  help  us  again  if  we  had  it  operated  as  an  inde- 
pendent or  continuous  line  appreciably  unless  we  hitch 
cheap  water  transportation  to  the  Wilmington  end  of  it. 
It  would  help  us  then,  but  not  in  greater  measure  than 
hitching  cheap  water  transportation  to  the  Wilmington  end 
of  the  old  Carolina  Central  branch  of  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line,  running  from  Wilmington  nearly  to  the  city  of  Ashe- 
ville,  and  stopping  at  its  terminus  in  the  town  of  Ruther- 
fordton,  and  by  our  modern  hard-surfaced  highway,  one  and 
one-half  hours  from  Asheville,  the  metropolis  of  the  great 
West. 

It  would  help  us  to  have  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  and  hitch  cheap  water  commerce  to  the 
Wilmington  end  of  it  just  as  it  will  help  us  to  hitch  cheap 
water  transportation  to  the  Norfolk  Southern,  operated 
as  an  independent  line  clear  through  the  State  from  More- 
head  City  and  New  Bern  to  the  great  manufacturing  city 
of  Charlotte,  situated  in  the  very  heart  of  our  manufacturing 
district. 


70  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

It  would  help  us  just  as  it  will  help  us  to  hitch  cheap  water 
transportation  to  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  system, 
being  operated  as  an  independent  line  and  running  from  the 
great  manufacturing  city  of  Winston-Salem  over  the 
Southbound  Railroad,  jointly  owned  by  the  Atlantic 
Coast  line  and  the  Norfolk  and  Western,  running  far  into  the 
great  West,  and  from  Winston-Salem  on  across  the  State  line 
to  Florence,  S.  C,  and  then  taking  a  bee  line  to  the  city 
of  Wilmington,  which  has  by  this  every  advantage  as  a  final 
port  terminus  over  other  Southern  ports,  including  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah.  It  gives  Wilmington  the  benefit  of 
direct  connection  with  the  great  western  trunk  line  of  the 
Norfolk  and  Western. 

It  would  help  us  to  own  or  have  operated  as  an  inde- 
pendent or  continuous  line  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  and  hitch  cheap  water  transportation  to 
the  Wilmington  end  of  it  just  as  it  will  help  that  great 
western  area  of  ours  traversed  by  the  Carolina,  Clinchfield 
and  Ohio  recently  leased  to  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
and  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  jointly  with  a  contract  to 
construct  a  high  grade  connecting  link  between  Elkhorn, 
Ky.,  and  McRoberts,  Tenn.,  giving  almost  a  direct  western 
trunk  line  over  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  and  the  Louisville 
and  Nashville  to  Indianapolis  and  Chicago  and  all  through 
the  great  West,  and  running  from  Indianapolis  and  Chicago 
directly  across  our  State  by  Marion,  in  McDowell  County, 
and  on  to  Spruce  Pine,  to  Spartanburg,  S.  C,  then  over 
the  Coast  Line  to  Florence,  and  with  almost  equal  mileage 
to  the  port  of  Charleston  or  to  Wilmington;  and  all  railroad 
men  will  agree  that  the  run  from  Florence  to  Wilmington  is 
a  better  railroad  run  than  from  Florence  to  Charleston, 
although   1  ,(y  miles   longer. 

The  distance  from  Florence  to  Wilmington  is  110.4  miles; 
to  Charleston,  102;  to  Savannah,  217.  For  all  freight 
moving  west  or  east,  Wilmington  has  the  advantage  of  any 
other  Southern  port  through  its  connection  with  the  great 
Louisville  and  Nashville  system  over  the  Carolina,  Clinch- 
field  and  Ohio,  and  with  the  Norfolk  and  Western  over  the 
Southbound  from  Winston, 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  71 

The  same  can  be  said  of  hitching  cheap  water  trans- 
portation to  the  branch  Hne  running  from  Rockingham  to 
Bennettsville  where  it  strikes  the  Coast  Line,  and  then 
takes  its  direct  course  to  Wilmington,  as  it  does  to  Charles- 
ton, or  various  other  through  lines  running  on  down  through 
the  State,  in  Scotland  County,  Robeson  County,  etc., 
running  over  the  Coast  Line  trackage  and  from  there  on  to 
the  port  at  Wilmington  or  Southport. 

The  contention  that  because  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  has  been  dismembered  and  operates  in 
two  parts,  one  owned  by  the  Coast  Line  and  the  other  by 
the  Southern  Railway,  it  is  impossible  forever  to  successfully 
establish  water  carried  commerce  in  such  manner  as  to 
benefit  the  people  of  North  Carolina  is  utterly  absurd  and 
ridiculous.  If  the  argument  for  great  benefit  to  accrue 
from  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  line  being  operated 
continuously  is  to  be  given  all  the  force  and  effect  suggested, 
it  would  apply  only  to  benefit  the  section  of  our  State  west 
of  Sanford,  from  which  point  the  old  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Railroad  ceases  to  be  operated  as  an  independent 
line.  But  how  about  benefiting  that  great  and  patriotic 
part  of  our  population  from  Sanford  on  to  Wilmington,  rich, 
prosperous,  and  determined  to  go  forward  as  that  section  is? 

It  would  seem  to  me  that  it  would  be  worth  while  to 
carry  some  benefit  and  opportunity  to  the  people  living 
between  Sanford  and  Wilmington,  and  in  the  many  good 
towns  along  the  line,  although  it  could  not  be  extended 
further  west  than  Greensboro  and  Mount  Airy. 

consignor's  right  to  route  his  freight 

But,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  under  the 
law,  independent  direct  and  continuous  railroad  connection 
is  not  essential,  though  desirable,  for  the  development  of 
water  carried  commerce  where  the  water  possibility  is  found, 
because  the  law  permits  the  consignor  of  freight  to  route 
it  without  his  being  penalized  or  charged  extra  for  doing  so. 
Under  the  law,  the  consignor  of  freight  at  Mount  Airy  or 
Greensboro  can  direct  that  his  freight  be  routed  to  Wil- 
mington and  from  Wilmington  over  the  water,  if  the  oppor- 


72  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

r 

tunity  Is  there,  and  the  carriers  must  comply  with  his 
directions.  So  the  importance  of  independent  and  con- 
tinuous railroad  connections  is  not  so  imperative  as  it  used 
to  be.  The  consignee  of  freight  from  without  the  State 
is  able,  as  is  usually  done  in  commercial  transactions,  to 
have  the  consignor  from  whom  he  is  purchasing  route  the 
freight  just  as  he  directs.  Aided  and  strengthened  by  this 
law.  North  Carolina  has  very  remarkable  railroad  con- 
nections to  all  of  our  principal  towns  situated  upon  navigable 
waters.  I  vv^ant  you  to  realize  that  this  law  is  sovereign, 
and  under  it,  the  Southern  Railway  can  be  absolutely  made 
to  route  freight  over  either  the  Norfolk  Southern  where  it 
connects  with  it,  or  the  Coast  Line  or  Seaboard,  or  any  other 
system  going  to  a  water  town,  from  which  and  through 
which  combination  water  and  rail  rates  have  been  estab- 
lished. We  are,  therefore,  independent  of  the  difficulty 
which  anciently  arose  over  not  having  independent  or 
continuous  lines  to  our  waterways. 

Coming  from  the  great  West,  freight  may  be  routed  by 
the  consignor  or  consignee  over  the  Coast  Line  or  Louis- 
ville and  Nashville  to  Bostic,  where  it  crosses  the  Seaboard, 
and  then  over  the  Seaboard  direct  to  Wilmington  or 
Southport,  but  do  not  forget  that  if  the  freight  consignment 
went  entirely  over  the  Coast  Line  it  could  get  to  Wilmington 
better  than  it  could  get  to  Charleston,  and  the  fact  that  It 
runs  across  the  line  a  little  into  South  Carolina  before 
taking  its  flight  eastward  to  Wilmington  makes  no  difference 
as  a  railroad  proposition. 

The  railroad  situation  is  not  only  not  detrimental  to  a 
modern  and  up-to-date  development  of  water  carried 
commerce  from  North  Carolina,  but  the  facilities  for  getting 
commerce  to  and  from  our  water  towns  Into  other  parts  of 
our  State,  except  two  or  three  remote  counties  In  the  East 
and  West,  are  almost  unprecedented  for  a  southern  or 
western  state. 

ESTABLISHING    A    GREAT    COMMERCIAL    CITY 

There  is  some  thought  In  the  State  that  we  cannot  build 
a  great  city  upon  our  waterways  because  of  lack  of  con- 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  73 

nection  with  great  western  trunk  line  railroads.  The 
situation  is  not  generally  understood,  for  our  connections 
are  very  far  superior  to  what  is  commonly  accepted  as  a 
fact.  However,  my  primary  and  controlling  reason  for  so 
earnestly  desiring  to  see  my  beloved  State  develop  water 
carried  commerce  is  not  in  the  hope  of  establishing  some 
mighty  commercial  city  upon  our  waterways,  though  if  the 
recommendations  found  in  the  report  of  the  State  Ship  and 
Water  Transportation  Commission  are  adopted  by  you,  I 
confidently  expect  to  see  not  one  but  several  cities  of  large 
proportion  established  there;  but  my  chief  concern  is  not 
to  build  an  important  city  there  upon  commerce  from 
Tennessee  or  Ke'ntucky  carried  through  our  State  to  such  a 
city.  This  is  desirable,  but  it  is  nothing  Hke  so  desirable 
as  to  see  an  additional  and  far  cheaper  mode  of  transporta- 
tion made  available  to  the  farm,  factory,  fishery,  or  other 
industrial  establishments  in  North  Carolina.  I  am  far  more 
interested  in  furnishing  an  additional  and  cheaper  mode  of 
transportation  for  the  farmers,  merchants,  manufacturers 
and  others  engaged  in  industry  in  this  State  than  I  am  in 
creating  a  more  direct  route  for  freight  in  the  states  west 
of  ours,  to  pass  through  our  State  to  the  world. 

MAY    NOT    BUILD    CITIES 

We  may  never  build  a  city  at  Wilmington,  Southport  or 
any  other  place  in  the  Cape  Fear  basin,  or  at  New  Bern, 
Morehead  City,  or  any  other  port  near  Cape  Lookout,  but 
this  does  not  prevent  our  taking  modern  and  up-to-date 
steps  to  carry  to  almost  every  nook  and  corner  of  North 
Carolina,  in  more  or  less  degree,  the  blessings  and  oppor- 
tunities which  would  go  with  the  development  of  water 
commerce  carrying  facilities  from  and  to  our  counties 
and   towns   situated   upon   navigable  waters. 

It  may  be  true  that  we  need  other  trunk  line  railroad 
systems  penetrating  the  great  West  in  order  to  successfully 
build  a  great  commercial  city  upon  our  waterways,  but 
there  are  literally  hundreds  of  small  towns  and  villages  and 
wide  areas  of  country  around  them.,  situated  on  or  near 
navigable  waters,  who  enjoy  i/he  blessings  of  competition 


74  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

between  rail  and  water  carried  commerce.  Our  people  are 
entitled  to  the  same  benefits  and  can  have  them  if  we  will 
develop  water  carried  commerce,  although  we  may  never 
have  a  city. 

WATER    TRANSPORTATION 

Primarily,  the  big  thing  to  be  accomplished  through 
the  undertaking  under  discussion  is  water  carried  commerce. 
This  would  be  highly  desirable  for  a  great  area  of  our 
State,  and  a  large  per  cent  of  our  population,  absolutely 
independent  of  the  freight  rate  question.  It  would  be 
almost  magically  energizing  and  animating  and  practically 
helpful  to  twenty-five  of  our  counties  in  North  Carolina 
which  are  situated  upon  navigable  waters,  and  to  twenty- 
five  more  counties,  over  our  good  roads  and  with  the  truck, 
within  fifty  or  sixty  miles  of  navigable  waters,  although  the 
benefit  did  not  radiate  beyond  this  area  to  the  remainder 
of  our  people.  Anything  so  vitally  affecting  the  power, 
opportunities  and  possibilities  of  that  great  area  of  our 
State  stretching  from  Currituck  Court  House  on  down  our 
sounds  and  Atlantic  front  and  way  out  on  dozens  of  our 
great  rivers  to  Wilmington  and  on  to  the  extreme  southern 
border  of  the  State,  and  up  the  Cape  Fear  into  the  historic 
county  of  Cumberland  and  the  hopeful  city  of  Fayetteville, 
penetrating  as  these  navigable  waters  do  twenty-five 
counties,  and  dozens  and  dozens  of  fine,  buoyant  and  for- 
ward going  towns  and  cities,  giving  our  State  more  miles 
of  ocean  front  and  navigable  sounds  and  rivers  than  any 
other  State  in  the  Union  enjoys,  is  not  a  local  question. 
It  is  utterly  ridiculous  to  look  upon  a  project  which  affects 
in  area  one-half  the  State  and  directly  touches  the  prospects, 
hopes  and  opportunities  of  more  than  one-third  of  the  State's 
population,  as  being  a  local  question.  It  is  too  far-reaching 
for  any  such  small  view. 

I  do  not  see  how  any  intelligent  man  can  combat  the 
proposition  that  the  development  of  our  waterways  through 
the  wide  area  so  imperfectly  described  would  be  of  com- 
mercial benefit  to  that  area  and  the  people  who  inhabit 
it.  The  entire  intelligence  of  the  world  recognizes  the 
benefit  and  opportunity  which  go  with  water  transportation 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  75 

possibilities  for  commerce.  I  am  not  going  to  insult  this 
State  by  undertaking  to  debate  the  affirmative  of  the  prop- 
osition that  water  commerce  carrying  facilities  are  desir- 
able and  highly  valuable  to  any  people  where  they  can  be 
had.  I  ask  you,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  to 
stop  right  here  and  answer  as  patriotic  North  Carolinians 
if  this  great  boon  ought  not  to  be  developed  and  made 
available  for  the  great  eastern  and  Cape  Fear  basin  areas 
of  our  State,  although  it  may  not  radiate  elsewhere  in  the 
State. 

I  cannot  conceive  of  any  member  of  this  great  body  which 
has  done  so  much  for  progress  in  North  Carolina,  failing 
to  respond  enthusiastically  to  the  proposition  that  the 
project  is  not  local,  and  ought  to  be  done  for  the  benefit 
of  the  great  area  and  population  directly  and  immediately 
aifected,  although  the  benefit  did  not  radiate  elsewhere. 
North  Carolina  is  one  great  whole;  all  of  it  is  concerned 
with  what  will  develop  every  part  of  it.  We  are  moving  as 
one  great  people  towards  higher  things  and  finer  oppor- 
tunities. It  will  bless  the  great  eastern  and  Cape  Fear 
section  of  our  State  to  adopt  the  suggestions  of  this  great 
commission  beyond  the  remotest  shadow  of  a  doubt. 

I  now  pause  to  beg  this  great  body  to  go  forward  with 
this  undertaking,  although  they  think  it  will  only  benefit 
the  great  area  which  I  have  described.  But  benefits  from 
this  development  will  not  stop  with  the  great  area  I  have 
mentioned.  The  beneficent  influence  of  it  will  extend 
far  more  widely,  and  become  State-embracing. 

freight  rates 

The  next  view  of  the  matter  I  ofi"er  some  thought  upon  is 
the  eifect  of  the  development  upon  freight  rates  in  the 
State.  I  beg  you,  and  through  you,  all  North  Carolina, 
not  to  dismiss  this  subject  with  the  dictum  that  it  is  a 
very  difficult  subject  to  understand,  that  you  cannot  under- 
stand it,  and  therefore  will  not  think  about  it.  It  is  true 
that  the  unjust  system  of  freight  rate  making  for  railroad 
carried  commerce  is  founded  upon  such  absurd  principles 
and  results  in  such  ridiculous  conclusions  that  it  is  difficult 


IG  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

for  a  man  who  thinks  logically  and  straight  to  understand 
it;  but  it  is  a  matter  of  such  vital  consequence  to  the  whole 
people  of  the  State  that  they  must  study  and  understand 
it,  or  suffer  more  than  they  will  suffer  from  any  other 
imposition   to  be  practiced   upon   them. 

The  total  cost  annually  of  the  progressive  government 
which  the  State  of  North  Carolina  is  now  enjoying,  and 
sometimes  is  criticized  for  its  liberality  and  expenditures 
in  the  many  activities  which  the  State  is  engaged  in,  aggre- 
gate about  twelve  millions  of  dollars  exclusive  of  expend- 
itures for  highways  and  permanent  improvements.  The 
total  freight  charges  paid  by  the  people  of  this  State  aggre- 
gate fifty-five  millions  of  dollars  annually.  There  are 
many  lamentations  from  many  sources  in  the  State  about 
the  expenditures  of  twelve  millions  annually  by  the  State 
government  which  carries  so  many  blessings  to  the  people 
of  this  State,  but  very  little  attention  is  given  by  the  whole 
citizenship  to  the  fifty-five  millions  expended  in  freight 
carrying  charges  upon  our  commerce.  There  are  mighty 
outcries  by  certain  watchers  of  State  expenditures  for  good 
government  against  the  small  annual  interest  charges  to  be 
added  to  the  expenditures  by  the  State,  if  this  water 
development  project  is  carried  through;  but  these  same 
gentlemen  are  silent  over  the  proposition  which  is  being 
seriously  made  and  pressed,  in  a  readjustment  and  over- 
hauling of  freight  rates  going  on  before  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission,  wherein  the  rail  carriers  of  this 
State  seek  to  increase  the  freight  charges  upon  only  a  part 
of  the  commerce  of  this  State,  a  sum  greater  than  ten 
millions  of  dollars  annually. 

In  some  way  the  art  of  publicity  is  so  influenced  or 
controlled  in  this  State  that  no  attention  whatever,  or 
scarcely  any,  is  being  given  to  the  cold,  cruel,  and  relent- 
lessly pushed  effort  to  add  to  the  fifty-five  millions  of 
dollars  paid  the  railroads  in  freight  charges  by  this  State 
an  additional  ten  millions  annually — a  sum  amounting  to 
nearly  as  much  as  the  total  cost  of  our  State  gov^ernment. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  such  use  of  the  mys- 
teries and  means  of  publicity  in  North  Carolina  are 
obtained. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  11 

I  beg  your  calm  attention,  and  may  I  crave  your  official 
respect  while  I  present  to  you  mature  and  seasoned  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  the  development  of  water  competition 
to  rail  service  in  the  carrying  to  and  from  our  State  of  our 
great  tonnage  of  commerce. 

I  want  you  to  realize  that  it  is  of  vital  importance  in  the 
consideration  of  this  subject  to  divide  into  distinct  classes 
commerce  moving  from  and  to  our  State.  It  must  not  be 
thought  of  as  a  whole;  there  are  different  types  and  char- 
acters of  freight,  and  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the 
benefits  of  developing  our  water  commerce,  I  beg  you  to 
realize  the  importance  of  dividing  freight  or  commerce  into 
the  three  following  types  or  classes: 

First.  Shipments  moving  from  one  port  or  navigable 
water  town,  to  another  port  or  navigable  water  town,  and 
which  do  not  necessarily  have  to  be  carried  for  any  part  of 
the  distance  upon  a  railway.  For  instance,  shipments 
moving  from  Wilmington,  Southport,  Morehead  City  or 
other  navigable  water  towns  in  North  Carolina,  to  Balti- 
more, Philadelphia,  New  York  City,  or  other  navigable 
water  towns  or  cities  outside  of  the  State;  or  shipments 
moving  from  the  towns  or  cities  mentioned  from  without 
the  State  to  the  towns  or  cities  mentioned  within  the  State, 
or  other  towns  upon  navigable  water. 

Second.  Shipments  of  commerce  which  can  be  moved 
partly  over  water  and  partly  over  rail,  as  for  example, 
shipmicnts  moving  from  Lumberton,  Kinston,  Goldsboro  or 
Sanford  to  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Boston  or  other  towns 
or  cities  situated  on  navigable  waters;  or  from  New  York, 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia  or  other  port  cities  to  the  North 
Carolina   points   named,   or  others   similarly  situated. 

Third.  Shipments  which  cannot  be  moved  partly  over 
the  Vv^ater,  but  move  entirely  upon  the  railroad,  and  the 
economy  of  its  movement  cannot  be  contributed  to  be  a 
partial  water  haul. 

I  most  earnestly  submit  that  the  tonnage  of  our  commerce 
coming  under  the  first  class  is  large  and  worthy  of  the 
State's  aid  and  protection  in  every  fair  way,  and  when 
supplemented  by  the  second  class,  to  wit:  that  which  can 


78  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

be  moved  partly  over  the  water  and  partly  over  rail,  that 
we  will  include  a  large  part  of  all  the  commerce  moving  from 
this  State. 

The  third  class,  it  may  appear,  will  not  be  directly 
affected,  but  I  expect  to  convince  you  before  finishing  my 
argument  that  even  this  class  of  freight  may  be  and  quite 
likely  will  be  affected  to  the  great  saving  of  North  Carolina 
by  developing  our  possibilities  of  water  transportation. 

How  will  the  establishment  of  water  competition  in  the 
carrying  of  our  freight  affect  the  freight  rates  upon  the 
people  of  this  State  .'^ 

I  have  prayed  for  power  to  speak  at  this  point  with 
clearness  and  in  a  style  that  you  and  the  great  body  of  the 
people  of  North  Carolina  may  understand.  I  doubt  if 
any  North  Carolinian  ever  undertook  to  make  clear  to  the 
people  of  the  State  a  question  of  such  tremendous  import 
to  their  welfare.  I  strive  to  speak  in  terms  of  clearness, 
and  not  in  expert  or  professional  terms. 

Primarily,  and  as  the  first  step,  we  seek  by  setting  up 
water  competition  to  substitute  cheap  water  borne  trans- 
portation of  commerce  for  high  priced  and  unjust  railroad 
transportation  for  as  much  of  our  commerce  as  possible. 
The  first  step  is  not  to  reduce  freight  rates,  but  to  sub- 
stitute water  rates,  cheaper  and  in  many  respects  preferable, 
into  and  out  of  twenty-five  counties  of  North  Carolina, 
and  to  substitute  in  twenty-five  more  counties  cheap 
water,  and  expeditiously  carried  truck  rates,  over  our 
good  roads,  combined,  for  high  priced  and  unjust  railroad 
carried  service.  In  addition  to  the  great  volume  of  water 
carried  commerce  referred  to  in  the  foregoing,  we  seek  to 
supplement  and  add  to  this  vast  volume  of  water  commerce 
which  can  be  carried  the  longer  part  of  the  way  to  its 
destination  upon  the  water  at  cheap  rates  and  only  the 
shorter  part  of  the  way  upon  high  priced  railroad  rates. 

Is  this  not  a  boon  to  be  desired  by  every  man  who  loves 
North  Carolina  and  its  whole  people  better  than  he  does 
some  railroad  carrier,  or  special  interest.? 

It  is  not  unjust  to  the  railroad  carrier  of  freight.  It  has 
blessed  and  given  strength  to  other  states  and  countries 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  79 

throughout  the  ages;  it  will  bless  and  give  greater  strength 
and  power  and  opportunity  to  North  Carolina. 

Water  competition  to  rail  transportation  may  be  through 
all  water  transportation,  or  only  part  water  and  part  rail, 
but  nevertheless,  competitive,  and  recognized  as  competitive, 
by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission. 

As  to  transportation  of  the  first  class  of  freight,  com- 
merce or  shipments  to  which  I  have  referred,  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission  is  without  any  regulatory 
authority  whatsoever.  Commerce  may  be  sent  over  the 
water  the  entire  distance  from  any  other  navigable  water 
town  to  twenty-five  counties  of  our  State,  or  if  transported 
from  there  by  t_ruck,  over  our  good  roads,  to  fifty  counties 
of  our  State,  and  there  is  no  government  tribunal.  Federal 
or  State,  which  has  any  jurisdiction  whatsoever  over  it. 
It  is  most  important  that  you  should  accept  this  state- 
ment as  a  fact.  It  is  a  fact.  If  we  had  water  borne  com- 
merce moving  from  twenty-five  counties  in  the  State,  and 
coupled  with  the  good  road  and  truck,  from  fifty  counties 
of  the  State,  to  the  coast  towns  of  other  states,  and  back 
again,  the  railroads  would  have  competition  in  transporting 
the  first  character  of  shipment  referred  to  by  me,  and  they 
could  not  go  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  or 
any  other  governmental  body  for  protection  from  it. 

A  great  volume,  I  cannot  give  you  the  percentage,  of 
the  tonnage  of  our  total  commerce  could  be  moved  from 
the  fifty  counties  upon  navigable  waters,  or  in  such  prox- 
imity thereto  as  that  the  good  road  and  truck  make  them 
able  to  use  the  water  transportation.  It  embraces  that 
area  of  our  State  where  the  best  farming  in  the  Union  is 
being  done;  where  per  acre  planted  and  per  farmer  engaged 
the  annual  crops  are  more  valuable  than  anywhere  else  in 
this  Republic.  The  lumber  interests  are  still  large.  Manu- 
facturing, while  not  comparable  to  that  of  the  Piedmont  or 
Western  section,  is  nevertheless  far  from  insignificant. 
For  the  great  area  and  large  population  I  have  mentioned  we 
can  undoubtedly  provide  cheap  water  transportation  in- 
stead of  high  priced  railroad  transportation  for  a  large  per- 
centage of  the  total  commerce  moving  in  and  out.  And 
there  is  no  power  to  prevent,  hamper,  or  hinder  it. 


80  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

As  to  the  second  class  of  freight  or  commerce  mentioned 
by  me,  to  wit:  that  moving  the  longer  way  over  water  and 
the  shorter  way  over  the  railroad,  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  has  jurisdiction,  but  this  great  tribunal  is  just 
and  rightfully  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  whole  country. 
It  is  not  controlled  by  any  prejudice  against  North  Carolina. 
It  is  high  above  any  improper  influence  of  any  character. 
It  will  accord  to  us  as  a  matter  of  law  just  opportunity  to 
avail  ourselves  of  the  longer  haul  by  water  and  the  short 
haul  by  rail.  It  will  undoubtedly,  and  as  a  matter  of  course, 
permit  the  establishment  of  through  bills  of  lading  between 
the  railroad  carriers  of  commerce  and  responsible  water 
carrying  commerce  companies.  If  a  responsible  ship  com- 
pany asks  for  a  through  bill  of  lading  between  it  and  any 
railroad  and  its  connections  doing  the  business  of  a  common 
carrier  from  such  water  town  in  our  State  upon  terms  that 
did  not  undercut  and  discriminate  against  the  ports  or 
water  towns  in  other  sections  of  the  country,  it  would  be 
allowed  without  contest  of  question.  If  a  responsible  ship 
company  asks  for  through  rates  and  a  through  bill  of  lading 
from  Wilmington  with  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railroad 
to  towns  on  the  old  Carolina  Central  Railroad  on  up  to 
Rutherfordton,  including  Charlotte,  putting  the  port  at 
Wilmington  as  to  such  shipment  upon  an  equality  with 
Norfolk  or  Savannah,  there  could  be  no  contest  about  it, 
and  after  this  through  bill  of  lading  had  been  provided  for  by 
the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  any  consignor  of 
freight  from  anywhere  could  route  it  that  way  instead  of 
over  the  competing  road  and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Rail- 
road would  be  compelled,  as  a  matter  of  law,  under  heavy 
penalty,  to  send  it  in  the  way  directed. 

The  same  would  apply  to  a  ship  company  asking  for 
general  rates  through  and  joint  bill  of  lading  out  of  New 
Bern  or  Morehead  City  over  the  Norfolk  Southern  into 
the  interior  anywhere  the  Norfolk  and  Southern  or  its  con- 
nections go.  The  same  would  apply  to  a  proposition  for  a 
through  bill  of  lading  between  a  ship  company  and  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  from  Wilmington  or  Southport  or  other 
water  towns  from  which  it  does  the  business  of  a  common 
carrier  to  anywhere  its  lines  of  construction  go. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  81 

There  is  no  way  to  prevent  upon  just  and  proper  terms 
the  people  of  this  State  forcing  a  common  railroad  carrier 
of  the  State  to  do  business  with  those  carrying  freight  by 
ship  to  and  from  our  towns  situated  upon  navigable  waters 
upon  just  terms.  If  this  were  done,  we  could  cut  our 
rates  so  as  to  put  us  on  an  equality  with  port  cities  in  other 
states,  and  then,  coupled  with  the  railroads,  write  a  cheaper 
water  transportation  into  the  life  of  every  community  in 
North  Carolina  situated  nearer  to  our  water  towns  than 
to  Norfolk,  Charleston  or  Savannah  or  some  other  city 
from  which  water  commerce  is  carried. 

If  this  was  successfully  done,  and  there  is  no  earthly 
reason  why  it  cannot  be,  then  to  the  large  volume  of  our 
commerce  carried  altogether  over  water  at  cheaper  rates 
than  rail  would  be  added  a  mighty  volume  of  our  total  com- 
merce moving  a  longer  part  of  the  way  cheaply  over  water, 
and  only  a  short  part  of  the  way  at  high  rates  over  rail, 
making  a  total  rate  for  the  whole  haul  at  substantially 
less  than  an  all  rail  rate  would  be. 

It  would  not  affect  directly  the  third  class  or  division  of 
commerce  or  freight  enumerated  by  me,  but  it  would  quite 
likely  affect  this  class  as  water  competition  has  done  every- 
where else  it  has  been  made  actual  throughout  the  United 
States.     The  third  class  would  be  aifected  in  this  way. 

The  result  of  healthy,  vigorous  water  competition  would 
be  not  the  creation  of  a  situation  in  which  any  shipper  could 
go  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  and  demand  a 
reduction  in  freight  railroad  rates,  but  it  would  give  him 
an  opportunity  at  substantially  less  cost  to  avail  himself 
of  water  transportation.  It  would  be  cheaper  and  in  many 
instances  faster  and  more  dependable.  This  would  result 
in  the  substitution  of  cheap  water  rates  for  much  of  the 
commerce  or  freight  of  our  State,  which  could  be  carried 
either  wholly  over  the  water,  or  over  the  water  and  the  good 
road  by  truck,  or  the  longer  part  of  the  way  over  the  water 
and  only  the  shorter  part  of  the  way  by  rail,  that  the  rail- 
roads would  be  absolutely  forced  to  meet  the  competition 
or  lose  annually  millions  of  dollars  for  carrying  over  their 
roads  the  commerce  of  North  Carolina. 


82  Papers  of  Cameron  Morriso 


N 


Would  they  meet  this  competition?  They  declare  now 
their  policy  is  not  to  meet  water  competition.  When  I  was 
arguing  cases  during  the  Craig  administration  before  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  for  the  reduction  of  our 
rates,  the  whole  cry  then  was  that  we  had  not  actual  water 
competition,  and  they  did  not  have  to  meet  competition 
which  was  only  potential.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  will 
undertake  to  meet  the  competition  or  not,  but  I  do  know 
that  if  we  will  establish  good  service  from  our  twenty-five 
counties  from  which  it  is  possible  to  carry  commerce  over 
water  and  the  twenty-five  adjacent  counties  which,  coupled 
with  the  good  road  and  the  truck  and  the  water,  can  be 
moved  without  railroad  help,  and  establish  through  bills  of 
lading  through  our  water  towns  upon  a  fair  basis  the  rail- 
roads will  either  have  to  meet  the  competition  or  lose 
millions  of  their  annual  income  now  taken  from  the  people  of 
this  State. 

The  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  permits  them  to 
recognize  this  water  competition  not  to  the  extent  they  were 
formerly  allowed  to  do,  when  they  cut  rates  so  low  that  the 
companies  carrying  commerce  on  the  water  were  unable  to 
compete  with  them,  and  had  to  perish  away,  but  they  are 
still  allowed  to  recognize  this  competition  to  a  liberal  extent 
by  judgment  and  action  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission. They  are  whispering  it  about  over  the  State  that 
their  policy  is  now  not  to  recognize  such  competition.  If  they 
do  not,  North  Carolina  will  save  millions  of  dollars  annually 
upon  the  first  and  second  class  of  shipments  mentioned, 
in  spite  of  them.  If  they  do  meet  the  competition  which 
the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  will  allow  them  to 
do,  and  which  I  am  absolutely  certain  they  will  have  to  ask 
for  the  right  to  do,  then  they  would  ask  to  cut  their  rates 
to  the  towns  where  they  felt  the  competition  in  order  to 
meet  it.  They  have  done  this  everywhere  water  competi- 
tion has  faced  them  throughout  the  United  States. 

If  they  did  ask  to  meet  it,  then  it  would  result  necessarily 
in  their  not  only  cutting  their  charges  upon  the  first  two 
characters  of  shipment  mentioned,  but  upon  the  third  as 
well,  for  there  is  no  practical  or  possible  way  that  they  can 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  83 

meet  the  competition  in  the  carrying  of  the  first  and  second 
classes  of  shipments  mentioned  without  reducing  all  the 
rates  on  freight  carried  by  them  to  or  from  the  towns 
where  competition  in  the  first  two  characters  of  shipment 
affect  them.  It  is  not  practical  to  find  any  way  by  which 
the  railroads  can  reduce  freight  rates  upon  the  two  characters 
of  shipment  first  mentioned.  They  can  find  no  segregation  or 
classification  to  meet  the  situation.  They  must  reduce 
rates  to  the  places  affected  on  all  freight  in  order  to  meet 
the  competition  on  the  first  two  types  of  freight  mentioned. 

And  if  they  do  reduce  freight  to  the  towns  where  they 
feel  water  competition,  (and  this  refers  to  the  interior 
towns  where  the  competition  is  only  part  water  and  other 
part  rail  or  truck),  then  the  law  automatically  extends 
such  reduction  to  all  towns  near  by,  that  is,  nearer  the 
town  where  such  reduced  rates  applied  than  to  some  other 
town  enjoying  as  low  or  lower  rates.  This  is  a  matter 
of  law.  I  cite  you  to  section  four  of  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Act  as  amended  June  18,  1910,  and  further  amended 
February  28,  1920.  In  other  words,  the  railroads  cannot 
charge  higher  rates  for  transporting  from  and  to  a  distant 
point  than  they  charge  to  some  intermediate  point,  plus  the 
rate  from  such  intermediate  point  to  the  distant  point.  If 
the  railroads  reduce  freight  rates  under  permission  of  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to  meet  competition  of  all 
water  rates  to  Wilmington,  or  part  water  and  part  truck  and 
good  road  to  Lumberton,  or  to  Charlotte  to  meet  rates 
based  on  the  longer  part  of  the  haul  by  water  and  the  shorter 
part  of  the  haul  by  rail  through  Wilmington  to  Charlotte, 
or  Greensboro,  then  automatically,  points  further  on  and 
around  about,  the  towns  where  such  reductions  were  made 
would  at  once  and  as  a  matter  of  law,  not  favor,  enjoy  the 
reduction  because  they  could  not  charge  a  greater  rate  to 
a  more  distant  point  than  the  rate  to  one  of  the  towns 
mentioned,  plus  the  local  rate  on  to  such  distant  point. 

It  is  impossible  under  the  law  for  the  railroads  to  reduce 
freight  rates  to  Wilmington,  New  Bern,  Greensboro,  Char- 
lotte, or  other  towns  without  automatically  and  as  a  matter 
of  clear  cut  legal  right,   granted   the  people  by  Congress, 


84  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

without  radiating  such  reductions  to  other  towns  more 
distant,  and  yet  not  nearer  to  a  better  rate,  than  the  new 
rate  would  be.  In  other  words,  any  town  takes  the  nearest 
competitive  rate  to  it. 

Do  you  not  see,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly, 
that  through  vigorous  water  competition  we  can  either 
supply  cheap  water  transportation  for  high  and  costly  rail 
transportation  upon  a  great  portion  of  our  commerce,  and 
thereby  save  our  people  millions  of  dollars  annually,  or 
batter  down  the  fabric  of  injustice  and  discrimination  upon 
which  the  whole  freight  rate  fabric  of  the  railroads  in  our 
State  is  based. 

There  is  no  possible  escape  from  the  logic  that  water 
competition  may  be  wholly  water  or  partly  water  and 
partly  rail,  or  partly  water  and  partly  truck,  and  that 
such  competition  will  either  have  to  be  met  by  the  railroads 
by  substantial  reductions  of  freight  charges,  or  the  people 
will  enjoy  upon  a  mighty  volume  of  their  commerce  cheap 
water  rates,  instead  of  high  and  costly  rail  rates;  and  that 
if  they  do  undertake  to  meet  this  water  competition,  they 
will  be  compelled  to  readjust  their  whole  freight  rate  fabric 
in  this  State  and  reduce  rates  substantially  to  practically 
the  entire  State,  because  we  can  make  competition  reach 
far  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  and  when  this  com- 
petition is  met  under  the  law  it  can  only  be  met  by  reducing 
rates  to  the  towns  where  the  competition  affects  them,  and 
this  will  radiate  from  such  towns  to  far  areas  around  and 
about.  This  is  not  only  worth  doing,  but  it  will  result  in 
greater  benefit  to  the  people  of  this  State  than  any  measure 
ever  enacted  affecting  material  things. 

When  asked  whether  the  building  of  docks,  warehouses 
and  depots  can  be  operated  by  private  capital,  if  possible 
to  obtain  it,  or  by  the  State  if  we  cannot,  will  reduce  freight 
rates  in  North  Carolina,  for  rail  carried  commerce, 
I  confidently  and  boldly  declare  that,  if  it  does  not  reduce 
the  freight  charges  of  the  railroads  for  carrying  water  com- 
merce, millions  of  dollars  annually,  it  will  furnish  the  people 
of  North  Carolina  an  additional  and  far  cheaper  mode  for 
the  transportation  of  a  large  percentage  of  their  commerce, 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  85 

which  will  undoubtedly  save  them  millions  of  dollars  an- 
nually.    It  comes  to  the  same  thing. 

The  railroads  will  not  be  required  as  a  matter  of  law  to 
reduce  freight  rates  to  meet  the  competition;  in  fact,  they 
would  not  be  permitted  to  do  so  to  an  unlimited  extent 
and  for  the  purpose  of  destroying,  as  they  have  done  for 
a  long  time  in  many  sections  of  our  country,  water  com- 
petition, but  they  would  be  permitted  by  law  administered 
by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  to  make  reason- 
able reductions  in  their  rates  so  that  they  could  hope  to  get 
part  of  the  first  two  classes  of  shipments  referred  to  by 
me,  provided  they  reduced  their  charges  upon  all  three 
classes  into  which  I  have  divided  freight. 

If  you  go  forward  with  the  recommendations  of  the  State 
Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission,  gentlemen  of 
the  General  Assembly,  and  the  railroads  do  not  reduce  the 
charges  for  carrying  freight  by  rail  into  North  Carolina, 
we  will  supplant  it,  I  verily  believe,  by  a  cheaper  water 
transportation,  or  part  water  and  part  truck  transporta- 
tion, or  longer  part  water  and  shorter  part  rail  transporta- 
tion, to  an  extent  that  will  save  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
a  larger  sum  annually  than  the  twelve  millions  of  dollars 
which  it  costs  to  administer  our  State  government,  exclu- 
sive of  our  highway  development  and  other  permanent 
improvements. 

I,  therefore,  with  great  confidence  urge  that  you  enact 
the  necessary  legislation  to  give  the  people  speedily  and 
without  delay  the  great  opportunity  to  transfer  all  of  their 
commerce  which  can  be  carried  over  water,  or  over  water 
and  by  truck  on  the  good  road,  or  a  longer  part  of  the  way 
by  water  and  only  the  shorter  part  by  rail  from  the  present 
cold  and  cruel  opportunity  of  transporting  it  exclusively 
at  high,  discriminatory  and  unjust  rates  by  rail. 

recommendations  of  the  state  ship  and  water  trans- 
portation COMMISSION 

How  is  it  proposed  to  accomplish  the  setting  up  of  this 
almost  incalculable  opportunity  for  our  people.'^  The  great 
report  of  the  State'^Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Com- 


86  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

mission  sets  forth  with  particularity  how  it  can  be  done. 
They  advise  the  appointment  of  a  commission  clothed  with 
power  to  represent  the  people  in  all  phases  of  the  estab- 
lishment of  possibilities  for  carrying  our  commerce  over 
the  waters  penetrating  so  many  of  the  counties  of  our  State. 

A  commission  clothed  with  power  to  represent  the  public, 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  confirmed  in  the 
regular  way  by  the  Senate  branch  of  your  honorable  body. 
They  recommend  that  this  Commission  be  clothed  with 
power  to  cause  the  issue  and  sale  of  seven  millions  of  the 
bonds  of  the  State  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  to  exceed  five 
per  cent  for  the  purpose  of  building  docks,  warehouses, 
depots  and  other  necessary  terminal  facilities,  and  making 
physical  connections  between  such  depots  or  warehouses 
and  railroads  running  into  and  out  of  such  towns;  that  these 
facilities  shall  be  placed  in  such  towns  as  the  Commission 
may  select  and  find  adapted  to  water  transportation  of 
commerce.  It  does  not  recommend  the  establishment  of  a 
so-called  State  port;  it  recommends  putting  all  the  towns 
so  situated  as  to  make  it  possible  for  them  to  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  water  transportation  for  coastwise  business  in 
condition  to  do  so,  and  that  so  much  of  the  seven  million 
dollars  as  may  be  necessary,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commis- 
sion, may  be  used  for  such  purposes. 

I  need  not  go  into  greater  particularity.  What  they 
seek  to  cause  to  be  done  is  to  construct  and  make  available 
for  the  use  where  it  can  be  profitably  done,  such  reasonable 
terminal  facilities  as  the  business  reasonably  expected 
requires,  and  leaving  entirely  to  the  new  Commission's 
discretion,  as  servants  of  the  people,  where  such  places 
are  and  what  is  required.  They  find  as  a  fact  that  a 
large  number  of  places  have  sufficiently  deep  v/ater  to 
justify  the  moving  of  coastwise  business  from  and  to  them. 
There  is  absolutely  no  question  in  the  world  but  what 
these  findings  are  founded  on  truth  and  fact. 

I  will  not  quote  from  the  report  of  the  Commission.  It 
is  before  you  and  can  be  examined. 

The  Commission  was  made  up  of  nine  highly  capable 
men  representing  every  section  and  well  nigh  every  business 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  87 

in  the  State.  They  were  under  oath.  They  were  unprej- 
udiced. They  were  honorable  men,  and  they  unanimously 
found  the  whole  project  feasible  and  practical,  and  advised 
the  State  to  go  forward  with  it. 

It  is  not  a  revolutionary  or  socialistic  proposition.  What 
they  advised  with  reference  to  building  docks,  warehouses 
and  other  terminal  facilities  upon  navigable  waters  of  North 
Carolina  has  already  been  done  in  almost  every  other  free 
State  upon  this  earth  blessed  with  navigable  waters.  For 
the  State  to  do  it  is  not  substantially  different  from  the 
way  it  has  been  done  elsewhere.  It  is  true  that  in  most 
states  the  development  and  facilities  required  were  estab- 
lished by  cities  and  towns,  rather  than  by  the  State,  but 
everywhere  this  was  done,  it  is  now  recognized  as  a  mis- 
take, and  in  some  form  or  other  the  states  everywhere  are 
trying  to  take  from  the  cities  within  them  the  control  and 
monopoly  of  port  facilities,  and  control  and  manage  them 
for  the  whole  people  of  the  State. 

In  our  case,  we  have  not  had  towns  and  cities  large 
enough  to  devolop  the  necessary  facilities  and  make  the 
necessary  fight  with  the  railroads.  It  was  a  dream  of  our 
fathers  that  this  development  should  be  made.  They 
fought  and  sacrificed  to  try  to  bring  it  about.  Obstacles 
beset  them  which  could  not  be  overcome. 

The  obstacles  which  prevented  the  consummation  of 
the  dream  of  Dr.  Caldwell  and  of  Governor  Morehead  and 
other  great  patriots  of  their  day  have  been  largely  removed. 
We  need  nothing  now  but  courage  to  go  forward  to  make  the 
whole  scheme  completely  successful. 

The  Commission  wisely  recommended  that  we  do  not 
risk  putting  seven  millions  of  dollars  in  docks,  warehouses 
and  depot  terminal  facilities  without  giving  the  State  power 
to  see  to  it  that  they  shall  be  used.  It  would  be  a  hazard- 
ous thing  to  invest  the  seven  millions  of  dollars  in  develop- 
ing terminal  facilities,  and  then  risk  the  competitive  battle 
between  the  rail  carriers  of  commerce,  and  possibly  weak 
and  unsupported  companies  that  might  undertake  to  set 
up  the  competition.  Water  competition  has  been  bought 
off  by   railroads  in  many  sections  of  the  country.     I  am 


88  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

morally  certain  that  it  has  been  done  in  North  Carolina, 
The  private  ship  companies  have  difficulty  in  standing  up 
to  fight  them.  They  may  make  it  more  to  the  interest 
of  the  private  companies  not  to  do  the  business  in  this  State 
than  to  do  it.  You  ought  to  grant  power  to  your  Commis- 
sion, if  you  adopt  the  project,  to  buy  or  lease  and  operate 
ships  if  private  enterprise  cannot  be  induced  to  do  it  upon 
just  and  fair  terms  to  our  people.  With  this  power  in  the 
Commission,  I  believe  private  enterprise  v/ill  give  North 
Carolina,  and  every  county  within  it  enjoying  navigable 
waters,  reasonable  service  at  a  fair  price.  Without  the 
power  there  vv'ould  be  a  mighty  effort  by  the  rail  carriers 
of  freight  or  their  agencies  to  smother  and  destroy  the 
competition  in  its  infancy.  It  is  true  that  it  is  somewhat 
contrary  to  the  thought  of  our  people  to  authorize  the  State 
government  to  operate  ships  and  carry  com.merce,  but  this 
is  a  mxodern  state  of  the  mind  of  our  people  and  is  passing 
away  in  front  of  the  solemn  duty  to  protect  themselves. 

The  gentlemen  who  assail  the  proposition  as  unsound 
and  socialistic  ought  to  remember  that  but  for  the  fact  that 
North  Carolina  in  the  heroic  days  of  Morehead  and  Bragg 
builded  through  the  State  from  Charlotte  to  Goldsboro  the 
North  Carolina  Railroad,  and  then  on  from  Goldsboro  to 
Morehead  City,  and  then  builded  the  railroad  from  Greens- 
boro to  Asheville,  later  sold  by  the  State,  and  for  a  long 
time  all  operated  by  the  State,  we  would  be  today  a  weak 
and  helpless  State. 

I  hear  it  said  by  those  who  would  thwart  this  movement 
to  establish  water  carried  commerce  in  the  State  that 
government  ownership  and  operation  has  always  proved 
a  failure.  If  the  State  of  North  Carolina  had  been  con- 
trolled by  this  dreamy  sentiment  and  theory  when  we 
builded  the  great  railroads  through  the  State,  without  which 
the  present  North  Carolina  could  not  have  been  made,  we 
would  now  be  one  of  the  weakest  states  in  the  whole  Re- 
public. I  hear  occasionally  some  uninform.ed  person  tell- 
ing the  story  of  how  the  State  failed  in  railroad  building, 
etc.  The  greatest  investment  ever  made  in  the  State  was 
building  of  our  State  constructed  railroads.     We  did  not 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  89 

lose  money  upon  them;  the  State  fooHshly  sold  one  of  them 
at  a  great  profit  over  the  cost  of  construction.  The  other 
two  which  we  still  own  are  worth  many  times  more  than  the 
cost  of  the  construction  to  the  people.  When  the  State  was 
operating  them  we  did  not  lose  money  upon  them.  They 
are  owned  by  the  State  now,  though  under  lease,  one  of  them 
to  the  Southern  Railway  and  the  other  to  the  Norfolk 
Southern,  and  worth  ten  times  more  than  they  cost  the 
State,  and  we  have  had  good  interest  upon  investment  all 
the  while. 

As  a  general  policy  I  do  not  believe  in  State  ownership 
or  the  State's  engaging  in  business,  but  we  are  confronted 
by  a  condition  due  to  long  neglect  which  makes  it  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  us  to  make  a  slight  exception  to  the 
general  policy  of  our  State,  as  we  have  done  before,  and 
provide  that  after  we  have  built  our  docks  and  terminal 
facilities,  if  private  enterprise  will  not  operate  the  ships 
for  us,  the  State  authorize  its  Commission  to  use  a  sum  not 
to  exceed  one  and  one-half  millions  of  dollars  to  protect 
the  people  by  the  operation  of  ships  by  the  State  to  give 
them  the  great  privilege  of  cheap  water  transportation  in 
competition  with  high  priced  rail  transportation.  It  is 
no  more  a  violation  of  Democratic  or  Republican  principles 
than  Morehead,  the  great  Whig,  committed  when  he  builded 
the  railroad  through  the  heart  of  the  State  from  Charlotte  to 
Goldsboro,  or  than  Bragg,  the  Democrat,  committed  when 
he  carried  the  dream  of  Morehead  and  Dr.  Caldwell  on  from 
Goldsboro  to  Morehead  City. 

I  do  not  believe  any  intelligent  North  Carolinian  would 
brand  Morehead  and  Bragg  and  Dr.  Caldwell  as  socialists 
because  they  builded  and  for  long  years  operated  a  great 
system  of  railroads  without  which  the  present  proud  and 
growing  North  Carolina  would  have  been  an  impossibility. 

Young  individualists  may  hurl  "Socialist"  at  me  if  they 
desire  to,  but  I  proudly  crave  the  privilege  of  helping 
carry  out  the  noble  vision  of  the  great  constructive  Gover- 
nor, Morehead,  and  of  the  almost  equally  great  Bragg, 
the  Democratic  rival  of  the  great  Whig  statesman,  More- 
head,  by  going  a  little  further  with  the  kind  of  Socialism 


90  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

they  led  North  CaroHna  to,  which  has  resulted  in  making  it 
easily  the  strongest  and  most  promising  of  all  the  Southern 
States,  in  spite  of  high  and  discriminatory  freight  rates. 

I  am  not  a  Socialist.  The  men  who  want  to  see  this 
great  development  made  and  water  competition  in  the 
carrying  of  our  commerce  set  up  against  monopolistic  rail 
carrying  commerce  are  not  Socialists.  The  nine  men  com- 
posing the  Commission — Mr.  R.  M.  Miller,  Mr.  Chas.  E. 
Waddell,  the  Hon.  A.  M.  Scales,  the  Hon.  Emmett  H.  Bel- 
lamy, the  Hon.  Joseph  A.  Brown,  the  Hon.  J.  Y.  Joyner,  the 
Hon.  William  A.  Hart,  the  Hon.  Chas.  S.  Wallace,  and  Dr. 
D.  D.  Carroll — are  not  Socialists.  They  are  all  men  of 
common  sense  and  sound  American  views  of  government, 
and  they  have  sense  enough  to  know  that  theories  and  for- 
mulas must  give  way  to  exception  in  front  of  practical  neces- 
sity. They  found  that  North  Carolina  ought  to  make  these 
terminal  developments  in  our  water  towns;  that  the  State 
ought  to  put  seven  millions  of  dollars,  if  it  requires  so  much, 
into  that  development,  and  then  they  were  not  willing  to 
risk  the  money  all  being  wasted  by  selfish  interests  smother- 
ing the  use  of  them,  and  the  great  opportunities  for  the 
further  development  of  our  State  lost,  rather  than  give 
the  Commission  representing  the  State  a  small  amount 
of  money  and  the  power  to  see  to  it  that  they  were  used, 
and  that  water  carried  commerce  did  move  from  our  water 
towns  to  the  great  benefit  of  our  people. 

The  interest  upon  the  whole  eight  and  one-half  millions 
of  dollars,  if  so  much  were  invested,  at  four  and  one-half 
per  cent  would  be  only  3382,500  annually.  This  is  a 
considerable  sum  to  add  to  the  interest  charges  of  the  State, 
but  how  trifling  compared  to  the  great  benefits  hoped  for! 
Some  very  cautious  gentlemen  inquire  how  in  the  world 
can  we  pay  it.  This  is  the  old,  old  cry  that  kept  North 
Carolina  in  weakness  and  inefficiency  so  long.  North 
Carolina  is  amply  able  to  pay  for  the  doing  of  anything 
which  sound  business  and  its  interests  suggests  would  be 
wise.  A  very  trifling  increase  in  some  license  taxes  would 
meet  it,  but,  in  my  judgment,  the  present  Revenue  Bill  will 
be  ample  year  in  and  year  out  to  defray  the  whole  expense  of 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  91 

the  operation  of  this  State's  government  and  to  meet  its 
interest  charges.  It  has  been  settled  that  the  first  two 
years  of  revenue  levied  to  meet  the  first  two  years  of  the 
expense  of  the  present  administration  yielded  more  than  one 
million  of  dollars  above  requirements.  Gentlemen  have 
already  commenced  to  prophesy  a  deficit  for  the  next  two 
years.  This  is  pure  guess  and  conjecture.  I  am  morally 
certain  that  when  all  the  taxes  due  for  last  year  and  this 
are  collected  and  applied  to  the  expense  of  the  government 
for  the  year  ending  on  the  31st  day  of  December  next,  they 
will  be  found  ample  to  meet  every  current  charge  against 
the  State.  Who  can  say  that  the  yield  for  the  next  two 
years  will  not  be  sufficient.?  We  are  just  getting  under 
way  in  North  Carolina,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is 
going  to  be  any  necessity  for  increasing  any  character  of 
taxes  in  this  State  for  years  to  come  if  the  government  is 
administered  with  economy  and  without  waste. 

The  sinking  fund  required  for  the  redemption  of  the  bonds 
in  forty  years  will  amount  to  379,416.78  annually,  and 
this  is  on  the  supposition  that  all  of  them  are  used,  making 
a  total  for  interest  and  sinking  fund  of  ^461,916. 78  an- 
nually. It  will  require  a  sinking  fund  annually,  if  all  the 
money  was  used  for  ships,  of  ^14,014. 73;  and  for  terminals, 
if  all  the  money  was  used,  of  365,402.05  annually.  But 
I  am  satisfied  that  if  this  enterprise  is  embarked  on  under 
the  leadership  of  a  practical  and  competent  Commission, 
which  I  promise  to  offer  to  the  Senate  branch  of  your  General 
Assembly,  if  the  law  is  passed  giving  me  the  power,  the 
State  will  make  far  more  out  of  the  investment  annually 
than  the  interest  charges  and  sinking  fund  will  require. 

Gentlemen  who  oppose  this  measure  assume  that  nothing 
whatever  will  be  made  upon  it  direct,  and  that  the  whole 
benefit,  if  any,  will  come  from  the  benefit  upon  trans- 
portation charges.  They  cannot  sustain  this  contention. 
If  we  build  a  few  docks  and  a  good  warehouse  or  depot, 
with  physical  connections  with  the  railroads  in  a  dozen 
towns  in  North  Carolina  upon  land  given  by  the  town 
for  the  erection  of  the  buildings,  I  am  satisfied  they  will 


92  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

be  the  best  paying  pieces  of  real  estate  in  the  town  very 
soon  after  their  construction. 

We  want  free  and  open  ports  everywhere,  in  every 
county  where  we  have  navigable  waters,  but  by  free  and 
open  ports,  we  do  not  mean  we  will  not  make  the  customary 
charges  for  the  facilities  afforded.  A  good  warehouse  for 
the  assembling  of  the  products  of  our  farm  and  factory  and 
forest  at  New  Bern,  Morehead  City,  Bayboro,  Plymouth, 
Hertford,  Edenton,  Belhaven,  Washington,  Wilmington, 
Southport,  and  many  other  towns,  will  be  good  property  and 
pay  well  in  the  hands  of  a  competent  clerk  representing  the 
public  and  looking  out  for  the  interest  of  the  shippers. 
If  we  were  to  build  a  modern  depot  with  icing  arrangements 
for  fish  and  seafood  products  at  Manteo,  we  would  make 
there  one  of  the  greatest  fish  and  seafood  markets  in  the 
world,  and  make  money  on  the  investment;  and  carry  untold 
opportunity  to  the  people  of  Dare  County. 

The  Commission  would  naturally  build  such  structures 
and  facilities  as  the  business  of  the  place  requires.  There 
should  be  at  the  present  a  greater  development  made  in  the 
Cape  Fear  basin  than  elsewhere.  This  development  should 
be  made  at  both  Southport  and  Wilmington,  because 
through  the  Cape  Fear  basin  there  is  every  opportunity 
for  sea-going  trafiic  and  the  world  trade. 

Port  facilities  have  paid  almost  everywhere  the  public 
has  ever  invested  in  them.  There  is  no  reason  whatever 
why  the  development  suggested  upon  the  navigable  waters 
of  our  State  will  not  pay.  I  am  confident  they  will,  but 
if  we  paid  the  entire  interest  and  sinking  fund  charges 
suggested,  and  made  no  money  upon  it,  if  we  furnished  the 
people  of  North  Carolina  water  competition  in  the  trans- 
portation of  our  commerce,  the  profit  would  be  incalculable, 
certainly  it  would  mount  into  the  millions  annually. 

There  is  widespread  activity  and  demand  in  the  circles 
of  the  opposition  to  know  where  we  will  get  the  money 
to  pay  the  interest  charges  and  the  sinking  fund  require- 
ments. We  will  make  the  money  in  the  enterprise,  is  my 
answer,  confidently  offered.  But  I  want  to  inquire  of 
those  who  insist  upon  knowing  where  we  will  get  the  money 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  93 

to  pay  the  additional  interest  charges  and  the  sinking  fund 
requirements,  where  will  we  get  the  money  to  pay  the  op- 
pressive and  destructive  charges  for  rail  carried  freight 
borne  for  long  years  and  still  being  borne  by  the  people  of 
this  State.  I  ask  of  them  the  further  question  why  their 
solicitude  as  to  where  North  Carolina  can  raise  the  com- 
paratively small  sum  of  money,  considering  the  importance 
of  the  matter  involved,  to  set  up  cheap  water  carried  com- 
merce with  high  priced  rail-carried  commerce,  instead  of 
giving  some  of  their  solicitude  as  to  how  we  are  going  to 
raise  the  money  to  pay  the  additional  ten  millions  of  dollars 
annually  which  the  railroads  are  pitilessly  seeking  to  add 
to  the  fifty-five  millions  now  collected  from  the  people  of  the 
State  for  their  service  to  them  in  carrying  their  commerce. 

Nine  of  the  best  business  men  in  North  Carolina,  under 
oath,  have  found  that  in  their  opinion  the  development  of 
water  carried  commerce  in  the  manner  suggested  by  them 
in  their  report  will  pay  in  actual  operating  account,  I  feel 
sure  of  it. 

It  is  said  that  the  farmers  of  North  Carolina,  that  is, 
in  some  sections  of  it,  on  account  of  the  drought  will  make 
little  money  in  North  Carolina  this  year,  and  do  not  want 
additional  taxes  and  burdens.  This  is  pure  demagoguery 
because  under  the  amended  Constitution  and  the  new 
program  of  taxation  adopted  in  this  State,  neither  farmers 
or  any  other  class  of  our  people  are  going  to  pay  anything 
for  the  support  of  the  government  of  this  State,  unless  they 
make  money.  No  farmer  or  any  other  man  pays  now,  or 
will,  in  my  judgment,  for  years  to  come,  any  taxes  upon  the 
value  of  his  property  for  the  support  of  the  government  of 
this  State,  and  under  the  Constitution  as  amended  in  the 
same  election  in  which  I  was  a  candidate  for  Governor,  there 
cannot  be  levied  upon  the  value  of  property  in  this  State 
anything  in  excess  of  five  cents  upon  the  one  hundred 
dollars  of  value. 

Even  if  this  five  cents  should  be  levied,  we  would  still 
pay  practically  nothing  upon  the  value  of  property  for 
State  purposes,  but  it  is  the  fixed  policy  of  the  people  of 
this  State  not  to  levy  any  ad  valorem  taxes  for  any  State 


94  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

purpose,  but  to  leave  all  revenue  derived  from  the  taxes 
upon  the  value  of  property  to  the  counties,  towns  and 
cities  of  the  State.  No  longer  can  the  great  mass  of  our 
farmers  or  any  other  group  of  citizens  be  frightened  with 
the  threat  of  pressing  ad  valorem  taxes — it  simply  cannot 
be  levied  and  every  intelligent  man  in  North  Carolina 
knows  it  can  only  be  done  to  the  extent  of  five  cents  on  the 
one  hundred  dollars,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  sentiment 
in  the  State  to  levy  this  small  amount. 

The  farmers  of  North  Carolina  may  not  make  money 
this  year,  but  they  certainly  would  make  far  more  than  they 
will  make  if  they  were  not  ground  down  by  high  and  unjust 
discriminatory  freight  rates.  Taxation  in  North  Carolina 
is  a  mere  trifle  compared  to  freight  or  transportation 
charges  by  rail.  Oppressive  taxes  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
porting the  State  government  will  never  hurt  the  farmers 
of  this  State,  but  the  rail  freight  rates  have  been  for  years 
oppressing  them  and  will  continue  to  oppress  them  unless 
the  State  furnishes  another  and  cheaper  mode  of  trans- 
portation than  rail  transportation. 

RECOMMENDATIONS    FOR    NECESSARY    LEGISLATION 

I  urge  you,  gentlemen  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  enact 
in  full  and  complete  form  the  necessary  legislation  to  put 
into  effect  the  recommendations  of  this  great  Commis- 
sion which  looked  into  and  advised  us  about  this  matter, 
but  I  also  recommend  that  you  provide  that  this  legisla- 
tion shall  not  take  effect  until  after  the  same  has  been 
approved  by  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  North 
Carolina  at  the  general  election  in  November. 

I  urged  you  with  all  the  power  I  could  command  to  enact 
the  necessary  legislation  at  your  regular  session,  and  if  the 
Commission  approved  it  after  a  thorough  investigation 
under  oath,  and  so  reported  it  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
of  State,  and  they  approved  it,  to  go  forward  with  it  with- 
out even  referring  it  back  to  you.  I  did  not  fear  the  people's 
approbation  of  that  course.  In  other  words,  I  wanted 
your  body  to  let  us  go  forward  with  it  in  the  status  we  now 
find  it  without  even  referring  it  back  to  you  for  further 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  95 

action.  I  did  not  believe  it  was  necessary  to  submit  the 
matter  either  to  you,  or  in  direct  referendum,  to  the  people, 
but  finding  a  great  many  patriotic  members  of  your  body 
feared  the  assumption  of  so  much  responsibility  and  felt 
doubtful  of  the  verdict  of  the  people  upon  the  matter,  out  of 
consideration  for  the  doubts  over  the  question  of  good 
men,  and  further  fearing  that  your  body  might  not  enact 
the  legislation  unless  it  was  submitted  to  the  people,  I 
decided  that  I  would  call  you  together  and  advise  that  you 
take  the  course  I  have  suggested.  I  do  not  fear  the  appro- 
bation of  the  people  if  you  enact  the  legislation  for  going 
forward  immediately  with  the  great  undertaking,  nor  do 
I  fear  the  result  of  a  referendum  direct  to  the  people, 

I  believe  if  it  is  submitted  to  the  people  it  will  carry 
every  county  in  North  Carolina.  I  am  not  one  of  those 
who  think  the  people  cannot  understand  this  question.  I 
think  the  great  body  of  the  people  understand  it  very  much 
better  than  the  expert  and  professional  classes  think  they 
do.  The  great  body  of  the  people  may  not  be  able  to  under- 
stand the  intricacies  of  the  freight  rate  fabric  or  how  to 
navigate  ships,  but  they  do  know  and  understand  the  deep 
philosophy  of  the  whole  subject.  They  know  and  under- 
stand full  well  that  North  Carolina  has  only  one  means  of 
transportation  and  that  it  is  costly  and  oppressive.  They 
know  that  all  other  enlightened  states  and  countries  where 
the  possibility  of  water  borne  commerce  exists,  have  ex- 
pended money  and  developed  water  carried  commerce, 
either  through  the  State  government  or  some  subdivision  of 
it,  and  have  given  the  people  the  blessing  of  a  cheaper 
and  competitive  mode  of  transportation.  They  know  that 
the  cost  involved  is  trifling  compared  to  the  saving  made 
elsewhere  and  hoped  for  here;  they  know  and  understand 
that  it  is  an  honest,  practical  endeavor  to  strike  the  shackles 
of  commercial  inequality  from  the  ankles  of  North  Carolina 
and  permit  it  to  go  forward  in  its  commercial  life  and  in  its 
manufacturing  and  agricultural  life  with  equality  of  oppor- 
tunity in  transportation.  They  know  and  understand  that 
it  means  a  greater  and  stronger  North  Carolina.  Their 
courage  is  high,  their  determination  absolutely  dependable. 


96  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

It  will  not  hurt  the  Democratic  party  to  submit  it  to  the 
people  in  a  general  election.  It  is  not  a  political  question; 
it  is  greater  and  bigger  than  any  political  question  before 
the  people  of  this  State  today. 

Men  of  every  calling,  from  every  section,  and  of  every 
party,  are  assuring  me  that  they  are  willing  to  go  forth 
and  do  battle  for  the  adoption  of  this  last  great  plank  in 
North  Carolina's  new  program  of  progress. 

You  and  your  great  predecessor  enacted  the  program 
of  progress  into  law.  It  is  all  accomplished  and  working 
well. 

North  Carolina  has  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole 
Republic,  and  commendation  glitters  from  the  pages  of  the 
greatest  journals  and  magazines  of  the  country.  It  has 
made  our  people  proud  and  happy. 

We  have  worked  together  in  working  out  the  program. 
It  required  courage,  but  it  is  all  gloriously  successful. 

I  want  to  beg  you  not  to  hesitate  now  to  carry  the  pro- 
gram completely  through.  There  is  only  one  more  thing 
to  do.  I  beg  you  to  complete  the  work,  or  if  you  fear  that 
the  people  will  not  approve,  I  beg  that  you  enact  the  neces- 
sary legislation  under  which  the  heroic  people  of  North 
Carolina  can  finish  the  program  for  themselves. 


Messages  to  the  General  Assembly  97 

APPOINTMENTS  SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SENATE 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  August  22,  1924. 

Gentlemen: 

I  herewith  submit  to  your  honorable  body  for  confirma- 
tion the  following  whom  I  have  appointed  as  members  of 
the  Commission  to  study  the  feasibility  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  State  Constabulary:  ^ 

John  Hall  Manning Raleigh 

John  B.  Langston Goldsboro 

J.  E.  L.  Wade Wilmington 

Gallatin  Roberts Asheville 

Gordon  Smith Raleigh 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


1  An  act  was  passed  at  the  extra  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1924,  authorizing  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  commission  to  investigate  the  feasibility  o  establishing  a  State  Constabulary,  Chapter  94, 
Public  Lairs,  extra  session.  The  above  appointees  were  confirmed  August  22,  1924.  A  report  was 
made  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1925,  after  which  a  bill  was  introduced  to  establish  a  Department  of 
State  Police,  but  it  received  an  unfavorable  report. 


PROCLAMATIONS 


MOTHERS'  DAY,  1921 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in 
House  Resolution  874,  Senate  Resolution  648,  ratified 
March  8,  1921,  authorized  and  requested  the  Governor 
"To  issue  annually  a  proclamation  calling  upon  the  State 
officials  to  display  the  United  States  flag  on  all  State  and 
school  buildings,  and  the  people  of  the  State  to  display  the 
flag  at  their  homes,  lodges,  churches  and  places  of  business, 
and  other  suitable  places,  on  the  second  Sunday  in  May, 
known  as  'Mothers'  Day':  " 

Therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  do  hereby  accede  to  this  request,  in  letter  and  in 
spirit,  and  call  upon  the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  this  resolution  on  Sunday,  May  8, 
1921;  and  I  further  urge  that  every  citizen  of  our  Common- 
wealth who  has  a  mother  living  show  her  some  act  of  kind- 
ness and  rededicate  his  love  to  her;  that,  in  each  case 
where  the  mother  has  passed  on  to  the  Great  Beyond,  the 
surviving  son  or  daughter  pause  to  ponder  on  her  love, 
and  resolve  to  emulate  her  noble  example  in  life. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  third  day 

of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand    nine 
[seal]  hundred  and  twenty-one,  and  in  the  one  hundred 

and   forty-fifth   year   of  our   Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


102  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


NEAR  EAST  RELIEF 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  as  Wednesday,  June  1,  has  been  set  aside 
as  a  day  in  which  the  Near  East  Relief  will  make  a  special 
appeal  to  the  American  people  for  old  and  worn  clothing, 
for  the  use  of  the  suffering  nations  in  the  Near  East,  it 
is  my  hope  that  the  men,  women  and  children  of  North 
Carolina  will  give  their  cooperation  to  this  worthy  cause. 

It  is  not  asking  much  of  us  to  give  our  discarded  clothing 
to  the  suffering  people  of  these,  the  most  devastated 
countries  in  all  the  world;  and  I  am  sure  that  no  better  use 
for  these  articles  can  be  found.  It  is  little  that  is  asked, 
and  there  should  be  few  who  cannot  give  something  to  this 
call. 

I  earnestly  appeal  to  all  Christian  ministers  in  our  State 
to  bring  this  matter  to  the  attention  of  their  congregations, 
to  the  end  that  they  may  cooperate  to  the  fullest  extent 
in  this  undertaking.  I  am  positive  that  if  they  are  made 
acquainted  with  the  existing  need  for  help,  they  will  gladly 
and  generously  respond. 

This  movement  for  helping  the  stricken  inhabitants  of 
Bible  lands  is  headed  by  Hon.  Josephus  Daniels,  as  State 
Chairman,  and  has  the  approval  and  backing  of  leading 
citizens  throughout  our  great  Commonwealth. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  do  earnestly  call  upon  the  good  people  of 
North  Carolina  to  give  this  call  your  immediate  attention 
and  cooperation,  and  to  help  the  leaders  in  this  movement 
make  it  a  great  success.  This,  the  25th  day  of  May,  1921. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


Proclamations  103 


LAW  AND  ORDER  IN  CABARRUS  COUNTY 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Representations  of  such  character  were  made  to  me 
through  sources  which  I  credited  that  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  send  State  troops  to  the  city  of  Concord  to  aid  the  local 
officers  in  keeping  the  peace.  I  hope  this  condition  will 
quickly  disappear,  so  the  troops  may  be  withdrawn.  I 
recognize  the  industrial  condition  there  creates  a  delicate 
situation,  and  I  want  to  warn  the  people  of  the  county  to  be 
prudent  and  temiperate  in  conduct,  and  respect  the  legal 
rights  of  all  parties. 

People  who  desire  to  go  in  any  of  the  mills  and  work 
have  a  legal  right  to  do  so,  free  from  menace,  insult  or 
intimidation  of  any  character.  The  strikers  have  the 
right  to  present  their  cause  by  fair  argument  and  in  an 
orderly  manner,  through  such  representatives  as  do  not 
amount  to  an  overawing  crowd,  to  such  of  the  ingoing 
laborers  as  are  willing  to  hear  them;  but  they  have  no  right 
to  menace  or  threaten  the  ingoing  laborers  in  their  effort  to 
present  their  cause;  they  have  no  right  to  force  any  person 
even  to  listen  to  them  talk  unless  he  wants  to;  they  have 
no  right  to  assemble  such  numbers  as  by  their  weight  and 
demonstration  put  the  ingoing  laborer  in  fear. 

ordinance  not  recognized 

I  will  not  recognize  the  validity  of  the  ordinance  of  the 
city  of  Concord  which  forbids  representatives  of  the  strikers 
by  fair  argument  to  endeavor  to  make  laborers  who  desire 
to  take  the  place  of  strikers  agree  with  their  cause  and 
refrain  from  work.  I  believe  in  the  basic  law  of  the  land. 
The  strikers  have  a  right,  when  they  will  do  so  respectfully 
and  in  good  nature,  and  without  threat  or  menace,  to 
present  their  argument  to  a  person  about  to  take  their 
place,  and  if  such  a  person  agrees  with  them,  to  induce  him 


104  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

to  quit  work,  or  not  commence,  because  a  person  about  to  go 
to  work,  being  a  free  man  and  having  a  right  to  do  so  or  not 
to  do  so,  as  he  pleases,  it  then  follows  that  a  person  breaks 
no  valid  lavv^  who  undertakes  to  persuade  another  to  do 
that  which  he  has  a  legal  right  to  do. 

I  will,  therefore,  request  the  officers  in  command  of  the 
military  forces  on  duty  to  permit  reasonable  sized  com- 
mittees, as  long  as  they  will  conduct  themselves  peacefully 
and  respectfully,  to  present  their  cause  to  anybody  they 
may  see  fit  to  present  it  to,  but  the  officers  will  be  directed 
to  disperse  all  large  assemblies  brought  together  for  the 
purpose  of  overawing  and  intimidating,  by  a  display  of 
numbers,  those  who  desire  to  go  to  work,  and  to  suppress 
all  efforts  at  intimidation  and  insult  of  every  character 
calculated  to  produce  a  breach  of  the  peace  and  riotous 
conditions.  Striking  laborers  have  a  right  to  use  argument 
to  such  extent  as  they  can  do  so  orderly,  but  they  have  no 
right  in  any  manner  whatsoever  to  put  a  person  about  to 
take  their  place  in  fear  and  by  manifestations  of  physical 
force  or  thus,  through  display  of  numbers  or  manifestations 
of  violence  of  any  kind,  to  drive  him  from,  an  exercise  of  his 
free  will  to  work  when  and  where  he  pleases. 

MUST    RESPECT    LIBERTY 

The  liberty  of  every  person  must  be  respected  in  this 
State,  and  order  maintained. 

As  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  I  appeal  to  all  law-abiding 
men  and  women  in  the  county  of  Cabarrus  to  respect  the 
orders  and  directions  of  all  military  and  police  forces  in  the 
county  of  Cabarrus,  and  that  they  make  such  resistance 
as  they  feel  should  be  made  to  such  orders  only  in  court 
and  through  due  process  of  law. 

It  is  the  solemn  purpose  of  your  Governor  to  cause  the 
military  forces  of  the  State  to  respect  the  legal  right  of  all 
persons,  and  take  no  part  in  any  peaceful  economic  battle 
which  the  conflicting  forces  of  your  county  may  engage 
in,  but  all  must  realize  that  our  State  is  one  of  law  and  order, 
and  that  the  full  power  of  the  State  should  be  exercised  to 


Proclamations  105 

suppress  any  effort  to  substitute  force  and  intimidation  for 
argument  in  a   controversy  in  this   State. 

Issued   from   the   city   of  Asheville,   on   this   the 

[seal]  15th  day  of  August,  1921. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


FIRE   PREVENTION  DAY,  1921 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Careless  destruction!  It  is  a  reproach  that  North 
CaroHna  should  suffer  millions  of  dollars  of  loss  annually 
from  fires  caused  by  pure  negligence.  It  is  inexcusable 
that  the  careful,  cautious  property-owner  should  lose  his 
home  or  other  building  because  of  his  careless,  reckless 
neighbor.  Yet  how  passively  we  view  this  destruction  as 
we  watch  fearless  firemen  play  streams  of  water  upon  a 
raging  fire,  or  read  the  daily  toll  of  lives  and  property, 
sacrificed  through  fire  to  the  god  of  carelessness  and  waste. 

Destruction  by  fire  of  either  life  or  property  is  not  more 
justifiable  nor  less  deplorable  because  the  sufferers  are 
entitled  to  and  do  receive  the  sympathy  of  the  more 
fortunate. 

Conservation  of  human  life  is  man's  noblest  work.  Next 
in  importance  is  the  protection  of  our  property  assets.  The 
destruction  by  fire  during  1920  reached  such  enormous 
proportions  as  to  leave  us  little  room  for  pride.  In  North 
Carolina  alone  it  reached  the  startling  sum  of  six  million 
dollars  in  property  and  337  lives. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  CaroHna,  in  order  to  arouse  our  people  to  a  vivid 
sense  of  the  danger  of  fire,  and  to  induce  them  to  take  a 
more  active  interest  in  its  prevention,  do  hereby  set  aside 


106  Papers  of  Cameron  Morriso 


N 


and  designate,  Monday,  the  10th  day  of  October,  1921, 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Great  Chicago  Fire,  to  be 
observed  as  Fire  Prevention  day,  and  earnestly  urge  our 
people  to  observe  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  impress  upon 
their  minds  lessons  of  prevention. 

Let  local  authorities  give  attention  to  building  regulations, 
fire  prevention  ordinances,  and  let  them  furnish  the  fire 
departments  adequate  and  up-to-date  apparatus  for  fire- 
fighting. 

Let  the  people  reduce  the  fire  hazard  by  cleaning  up 
trash,  rubbish,  and  waste  from  their  premises. 

Let  all  heating  apparatus  and  chimneys  be  carefully 
inspected  and  put  in  proper  shape  for  winter  use. 

Let  all  public  and  private  institutions  be  carefully 
looked  over  and  necessary  changes  made  to  safeguard  the 
lives  of  the  occupants. 

Let  our  people  lend  impetus  to  this  movement  by  attend- 
ing civic  and  public  gatherings  called  to  devise  prevention 
means. 

Let  the  press  aid  by  timely  publications  pertaining  to 
fire  and  accident  prevention. 

Let  fire  drills  be  held  in  institutions,  factories,  in  public, 
parochial  and  private  schools,  and  let  the  teachers  instruct 
their  pupils  as  to  the  dangers  of  fire  and  accidents,  and  the 
simplest  means  of  prevention. 

Let  every  one  cooperate  with  the  State  Insurance  Depart- 
ment in  striving  to  make  North  Carolina  safe  for  life  and 
property. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  17th  day  of 

September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-one,    and    in    the    one 

hundred    and    forty-sixth    year    of    our    American 


Independence. 


By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson 
Private  Secretary. 


Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Proclamations  107 


ARMISTICE  DAY,  1921 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  Chapter  287  of  the  Pubhc  Laws  of  1919  desig- 
nates November  11  of  each  year  as  a  legal  holiday  in  North 
Carolina,  and  calls  upon  the  people  of  the  State  to  observe 
the  same  in  an  appropriate  manner;  and. 

Whereas,  said  day  is  the  anniversary  of  the  signing  of  the 
armistice,  marking  the  defeat  of  our  adversaries  in  the 
late  World  War,  and  pointing  the  way  to  a  new  era  of  world 
peace  and  democracy; 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  do  hereby  call  upon  the  people  of  our 
State  to  enter  into  the  spirit  and  significance  of  the  day,  and, 
on  November  11,  1921,  ponder  upon  the  bravery  of  those 
who  made  the  supreme  sacrifice  on  European  battle  fields, 
and  upon  loyalty,  devotion  and  patriotism  of  those  in  the 
homeland  who,  without  murmuring  or  complaining,  sent 
the  best  they  had,  the  flower  of  American  manhood,  to  the 
fields  of  honor,  and  to  resolve  anew  to  make  noble  and  good 
and  true  in  our  domestic  life; 

And,  further,  I  appeal  to  the  churches  and  religious  people 
of  the  State  to  assemble  in  their  respective  houses  of  worship 
on  that  day,  at  a  time  to  be  appointed  by  their  pastors, 
and  to  spend  one  hour  in  prayer  for  the  reduction  of  the 
armiaments  of  the  nations  of  the  world,  and  for  peace  on 
earth; 

And,  finally,  I  call  upon  the  educational  leaders  of  the 
State  to  conduct  such  exercises  as  may  be  convenient  and 
expedient. 

Done   in   our  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  fourth 

day  of  November,   in   the   year  of  our   Lord     one 

[seal]  thousand    nine    hundred    and    twenty-one,    and    in 


108  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the    one     hundred     and     forty-sixth     year    ot    our 
American   Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. . 


THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1921 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

^  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

One  of  the  most  sublimely  beautiful  religious  customs  of 
our  country  is  that  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  governors  of  the  various  states  of  the  Republic 
annually  fixing  a  day  pursuant  to  law,  upon  which  the 
people  are  officially  called  upon  throughout  the  country, 
publicly  in  the  houses  of  religious  worship,  and  privately 
to  acknowledge  God  and  render  thanks,  and  ask  for  future 
blessings  and  guidance.  The  day  has  always  been  a  sweet 
and  sacred  one  throughout  the  growth  of  our  State. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  having  designated 
Thursday,  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  November,  as  a  day 
of  thanksgiving,  devotion  and  prayer. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  hereby  designate  and  proclaim  Thursday, 
the  twenty-fourth  day  of  N  vember,  1921,  as  a  day  of 
Thanksgiving  in  this  State. 

The  General  Assembly  having  designated  the  day,  when 
fixed,  as  a  legal  holiday,  I  respectfully  urge  that  all  business 
be  suspended,  and  that  all  of  our  people  assemble  in  their 
houses  of  religious  worship  to  acknowledge  and  recognize 
Almighty  God;  and  that  in  their  homes,  and  private  places, 
they  recall  God  and  their  absolute  dependence  upon  His 
goodness   and  mercy. 


Proclamations  109 

As  a  State  the  year  is  richly  laden  with  blessings  for  which 
we  ought  to  render  thanks  unto  Him  from  whom  all  blessings 
come. 

The  year's  triumphs  along  lines  of  material  and  business 
endeavor  are  unusual  under  all  the  circumstances.  We 
should  be  grateful,  and  with  devout  hearts  render  thanks; 
and  generously  dedicate  the  wealth  created  to  sacred  and 
benevolent  purposes. 

As  a  part  of  our  thanksgiving  devotions  and  mani- 
festations, I  beg  that  those  who  are  strong  and  able  remem- 
ber the  orphanages  for  the  unfortunate  children  of  our 
State,  and  that  they  contribute  liberally  through  their 
various  religious  agencies  to  augment  the  capacity  of  these 
beautiful  and  practical  expressions  of  religion  made  through 
the  orphanages. 

Let  us  not  only  render  thanks  for  the  blessings  we  have 
received,  but  let  us  also  on  bended  knees  seek  divine  aid 
and  guidance  for  our  future. 

I  ask  the  prayers  of  the  people  for  strength,  righteousness 
and  wisdom  for  all  who  are  in  authority,  in  State  and 
Nation;  that  they  may  deal  justly  in  all  things  affecting 
the  discharge  of  their  official  duties. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed. 

Done   at   the  capitol,  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  the 
eighteenth   day  of  November,   in   the  year  of  our 
[seal]  Lord    one    thousand    nine    hundred    and    twenty- 
one,   and  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-sixth  year 
of  our  American  Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


110  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


JEWISH  RELIEF  WEEK 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  there  is  great  suffering  among  the  Jewish  people 
of  Europe,  thousands  of  whom  are  reported  as  being  entirely 
destitute  and  in  a  dying  condition,  due  to  the  lack  of  food 
and  other  necessities:  and, 

Whereas,  our  own  land  has  been  blessed  with  a  prosperity 
that  not  only  guarantees  our  own  safety  but  which  enables 
us  and  should  impel  us  to  share  our  bounties  with  our 
less  fortunate  fellow   human  beings   in  other  lands: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  do  hereby  set  apart  by  this  proclamation  the 
week  begining  Monday,  February  6,  and  ending  Sunday, 
February  12,  as  Jewish  Relief  Week.  I  ask  that  all  news- 
papers of  the  State  give  wide  publicity  to  this  week,  devoted 
to  such  a  worthy  cause;  and  I  especially  ask  that  on  Sunday, 
February  5,  notice  be  given  in  all  the  churches  that  the 
following  week  will  be  observed  as  Jewish  Relief  Week,  and 
that  the  ministers,  Sunday  school  superintendents  and 
teachers,  and  others  urge  their  people  to  seize  this  oppor- 
tunity of  helping  the  suffering  and  contribute  to  the  relief 
of  these  worthy  distressed  people  so  far  as  their  means  of 
relief  will  permit. 

In  witness  thereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed. 

Done    at   our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  sixteenth 

day  of  January  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-two,    and    in    the    one 

hundred    and    forty-sixth    year    of    our    American 


Independence. 


Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


By  the  Governor: 

Wm,  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary . 


Proclamations  111 


MOTHERS'  DAY,  1922 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  hy  the  Governor 

Pursuant  with  the  provisions  of  resolution  No.  38,  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  and  in  accordance  with  my 
own  sentiments  upon  this  subject, 

I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do 
hereby  proclaim  Sunday,  May  14,  1922,  Mothers'  Day 
and  call  upon  the  people  of  the  State  to  observe  it  as  such 
in  an  appropriate  manner,  carrying  out,  as  nearly  as 
possible  the  provisions  of  said  resolution,  which  call  for  the 
display  of  the  National  colors  upon  schools,  churches, 
lodges,  business  houses  and  other  suitable  places,  as  a 
public  expression  of  love  and  reverence  for  the  mothers  of 
our  State  and  an  inspiration  for  better  homes  and  a  closer 
relationship  between  the  home  and  the  Commonwealth. 

Further,  I  call  upon  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  to  make 
proper  reference  to  the  day  and  its  significance  and  to 
impress,  especially  upon  the  youth  of  North  Carolina  the 
importance  of  a  proper  reverence  and  respect  for  mother- 
hood and  womanhood. 

In  conclusion,  I  implore  every  man,  woman  and  child 
in  our  State  to  do  some  special  act  to  gladden  the  heart  of 
his  or  her  mother.  If  she  still  lives,  convey  to  her  some 
message  of  love  and  affection.  Make  the  day  bright  for 
her  by  a  letter  or  a  visit.  If  she  has  gone  to  her  reward, 
let  her  passing  mean  the  blazing  of  the  trail  to  that  God 
whom  she  taught  you  to  revere.  Strive  to  emulate  her 
virtues  and  to  stimulate  within  your  heart  the  inspirations 
she  planted  there.  Whether  she  be  living  or  dead,  wear  a 
flower  in  her  honor. 

This  the  13th  day  of  May,  1922. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson,  Private  Secretary. 


112  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


ROCKY  MOUNT  STRIKE 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

An  Announcement  by  the  Governor 

The  Sheriffs  of  Nash  and  Edgecombe  counties,  and  the 
Mayor  of  Rocky  Mount,  have  appHed  to  me,  for  reasons 
set  forth  in  a  written  paper  filed,  to  send  troops  to  the 
town  of  Rocky  Mount  to  uphold  the  law.  These  officers 
state  that  the  situation  is  such  that  the  forces  at  their 
command  are  inadequate  to  cope  with  the  situation. 

I  am  satisfied,  as  the  situation  now  stands,  that  disorder 
and  threats  of  violence  of  such  character  as  the  officers 
state  exist,  and  I  would  order  troops  to  the  situation 
instantly  but  for  the  fact  that  his  Honor,  H.  G.  Connor,  of 
the  United  States  District  Court,  has  issued  an  injunction 
restraining  the  parties  mentioned,  and  others,  from  com- 
mitting acts  of  menace  and  violence.  The  injunction  or 
restraining  order  of  Judge  Connor,  I  hope,  will  bring  the 
excited  parties  to  reason.  His  Honor,  I  am  satisfied,  under 
the  law  has  full  power  to  use  United  States  marshals  or 
such  forces  as  will  enforce  respect  for  the  orders  of  his 
court.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  having  assumed  juris- 
diction over  the  situation  as  he  has,  order  can  be  restored 
there  with  less  trouble  through  the  police  officers  of  his 
court  and  by  his  order  than  by  State  troops;  but  if  order  is 
not  restored  there  within  a  very  short  time  I  shall  order 
General  Metts  to  put  sufficient  military  forces  in  the  town 
of  Rocky  Mount  to  restore  order,  uphold  the  law,  and 
protect  life  and  property. 

There  are  disorders  elsewhere  in  the  State  incident  to  this 
strike.  They  must  cease,  regardless  of  the  reasons  offered 
for  such  lawless  conditions.  I  shall  use  every  power  the 
State  possesses  to  restore  order  and  to  keep  the  peace 
everywhere  in  this  State.  I  warn  those  who  are  engaged 
in  this  lawlessness  and  threats  of  lawlessness  that  they 
cannot  prevail  against  organized  society,  and  that  if  they 


Proclamations  113 

do  not  at  once  come  to  order  and  conduct  their  cause  with 
argument  rather  than  with  menace,  threats,  and  violence, 
I  shall  throw  all  the  military  powder  of  this  State  against 
them   without   further   delay. 

Done  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,   this  the   17th  day 
[seal]  of  July,  1922. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


ROCKY  MOUNT  STRIKE 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by   the   Governor 

Representations  of  such  character  were  made  to  me 
through  sources  which  I  credited  that  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  send  State  troops  to  the  city  of  Rocky  Mount  to  aid  the 
local  officers  in  keeping  the  peace.  I  hope  this  condition 
will  quickly  disappear,  so  the  troops  may  be  withdrawn. 
I  recognize  the  industrial  condition  there  creates  a  delicate 
situation,  and  I  want  to  warn  the  people  of  the  counties  of 
Nash  and  Edgecombe  to  be  prudent  and  temperate  in 
conduct,  and  respect  the  legal  rights  of  all  parties. 

People  vv^ho  desire  to  go  in  any  of  the  shops  or  workhouses 
and  work  have  a  legal  right  to  do  so,  free  from  menace, 
insult,  or  intimidation  of  any  character.  The  strikers 
have  the  right  to  present  their  cause  by  fair  argument  and 
in  an  orderly  manner,  through  such  number  of  representa- 
tives as  do  not  amount  to  an  overawing  crowd,  to  such  of 
the  ingoing  laborers  as  are  willing  to  hear  them;  but  they 
have  no  right  to  menace  or  threaten  the  ingoing  laborers  in 
their  effort  to  present  their  cause;  they  have  no  right  to 
force  any  person  even  to  listen  to  them  talk  unless  he  wants 
to;  they  have  no  right  to  assemble  such  numbers  as  by  their 
weight  and  demonstration  put  the  ingoing  laborer  in  fear. 


114  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  strikers  have  a  right,  when  they  will  do  so  respect- 
fully and  in  good  nature,  and  without  threat  or  menace, 
to  present  their  argument  to  a  person  about  to  take  their 
place,  and,  if  such  a  person  agrees  with  them,  to  induce 
him  to  quit  work,  or  not  commence,  because  a  person  about 
to  go  to  work,  being  a  free  man  and  having  a  right  to  do  so 
or  not  to  do  so,  as  he  pleases,  it  then  follows  that  a  person 
breaks  no  valid  law  who  undertakes  to  persuade  another 
to  do  that  which  he  has  a  legal  right  to  do. 

I  will,  therefore,  request  the  officers  in  command  of  the 
military  forces  on  duty  to  permit  reasonable  sized  com- 
mittees, as  long  as  they  will  conduct  themselves  peacefully 
and  respectfully,  to  present  their  cause  to  anybody  they 
may  see  fit  to  present  it  to;  but  the  officers  will  be  directed 
to  disperse  all  large  assemblies  brought  together  for  the 
purpose  of  overawing  and  intimidating,  by  a  display  of 
numbers,  those  who  desire  to  go  to  work,  and  to  suppress 
all  effort  at  intimidation  and  insult  of  every  character 
calculated  to  produce  a  breach  of  the  peace  and  riotous 
conditions.  Striking  laborers  have  a  right  to  use  argument 
to  such  extent  as  they  can  do  so  in  an  orderly  way,  but  they 
have  no  right  in  any  manner  whatsoever  to  put  a  person 
about  to  take  their  place  in  fear  and  by  manifestations  of 
physical  force  or  through  display  of  numbers  or  manifesta- 
tions of  violence  of  any  kind  to  drive  him  from  an  exercise 
of  his  free  will  to  work  when  and  where  he  pleases. 

The  liberty  of  every  person  must  be  respected  in  this 
State,  and  order  maintained. 

As  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  I  appeal  to  all  law-abiding 
men  and  women  in  the  counties  of  Nash  and  Edgecombe 
to  respect  the  orders  and  directions  of  all  military  and 
police  forces  in  the  counties  of  Nash  and  Edgecombe,  a,nd 
that  they  make  such  resistance  as  they  feel  should  be  made 
to  such  orders  only  in  court  and  through  due  process  of  law. 

It  is  the  solemn  purpose  of  your  Governor  to  cause  the 
military  forces  of  the  State  to  respect  the  legal  right  of 
all  persons,  and  take  no  part  in  any  peaceful  economic 
battle  which  the  conflicting  forces  of  your  counties  may 
engage  in,  but  all  must  realize  that  our  State  is  one  of  law 


Proclamations  115 

and  order,  and  that  the  full  power  of  the  State  should  be 

exercised   to   suppress   any  effort  to   substitute  force   and 

intimidation  for  argument  in  a  controversy  in  this  State. 

Issued    from    the    city    of    Raleigh,    on    this    the 

[seal]  21st  day  of  July,  1922. 

Cameron  A/[orrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


SPENCER  STRIKE 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Representations  of  such  character  were  made  to  me 
through  sources  which  I  credited  that  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  send  troops  to  the  city  of  Spencer  to  aid  the  local  officers 
in  keeping  the  peace.  I  hope  this  condition  will  quickly 
disappear,  so  the  troops  may  be  withdrawn.  I  recognize 
the  industrial  condition  there  creates  a  delicate  situation, 
and  I  want  to  warn  the  people  of  the  county  of  Rowan  to 
be  prudent  and  temperate  in  conduct,  and  respect  the  legal 
rights  of  all  parties. 

People  who  desire  to  go  in  any  of  the  shops  or  workhouses 
and  work  have  a  legal  right  to  do  so,  free  from  menace, 
insult,  or  intimidation  of  any  character.  The  strikers 
have  the  right  to  present  their  cause  by  fair  argument  and 
in  an  orderly  manner,  through  such  number  of  representa- 
tives as  do  not  amount  to  an  overawing  crowd,  to  such  of  the 
ingoing  laborers  as  are  willing  to  hear  them;  but  they  have 
no  right  to  menace  or  threaten  the  ingoing  laborers  in  their 
effort  to  present  their  cause;  they  have  no  right  to  force 
any  person  even  to  listen  to  them  talk  unless  he  wants  to; 
they  have  no  right  to  assemble  such  numbers  as  by  their 
weight  and  demonstration  put  the  ingoing  laborer  in  fear. 


116  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  strikers  have  a  right,  when  they  will  do  so  respect- 
fully and  in  good  nature,  and  without  threat  or  menace,  to 
present  their  argument  to  a  person  about  to  take  their 
place,  and,  if  such  person  agrees  with  them,  to  induce  him 
to  quit  work,  or  not  commence,  because  a  person  about 
to  go  to  work,  being  a  free  man  and  having  a  right  to  do  so 
or  not  to  do  so,  as  he  pleases,  it  then  follows  that  a  person 
breaks  no  valid  law  who  undertakes  to  persuade  another  to 
do  that  which  he  has  a  legal  right  to  do. 

I  will,  therefore,  request  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
military  forces  on  duty  to  permit  reasonable  sized  com- 
mittees, as  long  as  they  will  conduct  themselves  peacefully 
and  respectfully,  to  present  their  cause  to  anybody  they 
may  see  fit  to  present  it  to;  but  the  officers  will  be  directed 
to  disperse  all  large  assemblies  brought  together  for  the 
purpose  of  overawing  and  intimidating,  by  a  display  of 
numbers,  those  who  desire  to  go  to  work,  and  to  suppress 
all  efforts  at  intimidation  and  insult  of  every  character 
calculated  to  produce  a  breach  of  the  peace  and  riotous 
conditions.  Striking  laborers  have  a  right  to  use  argument 
to  such  extent  as  they  can  do  so  in  an  orderly  way,  but  they 
have  no  right  in  any  manner  whatsoever  to  put  a  person 
about  to  take  their  place  in  fear  and  by  manifestations  of 
physical  force  or  through  display  of  numbers  or  manifesta- 
tions of  violence  of  any  kind  to  drive  him  from  an  exercise 
of  his  free  will  to  work  when  and  where  he  pleases. 

The  liberty  of  every  person  must  be  respected  in  this 
State,  and  order  maintained. 

As  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  I  appeal  to  all  law- 
abiding  men  and  women  in  the  county  of  Rowan  to  respect 
the  orders  and  directions  of  all  military  and  police  forces 
in  the  county  of  Rowan,  and  that  they  make  such  resistance 
as  they  feel  should  be  made  to  such  orders  only  in  court  and 
through  due  process   of  law. 

It  is  the  solemn  purpose  of  your  Governor  to  cause  the 
military  forces  of  the  State  to  respect  the  legal  right  of  all 
persons,  and  take  no  part  in  any  peaceful  economic  battle 
which  the  conflicting  forces  of  your  county  may  engage  in, 
but  all  must  realize  that  our  State  is  one  of  law  and  order, 


Proclamations  117 

and  that  the  full  power  of  the  State  should  be  exercised 
to  suppress  any  effort  to  substitute  force  and  intimidation 
for  argument  in  a  controversy  in  this  State. 

Issued  from  the  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  19th 
[seal]  day  of  August,  1922. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


FIRE  PREVENTION  DAY,  1922 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

We  cannot  make  poverty  a  crime  while  we  regard  extrav- 
agance as  a  virtue,  neither  can  we  shut  our  eyes  to  careless- 
ness and  waste  and  thereby  postpone  the  day  of  financial 
exhaustion. 

Living  in  a  land  of  plenty,  we  are  apt  to  console  ourselves 
with  the  delusive  thought  that  what  we  lose  we  can  replace. 
How  about  what  we  destroy.?  That  which  is  lost  may  be 
recovered;  that  which  is  destroyed  by  fire  is  beyond  resto- 
ration. Fire  Means  Destruction,  Not  Loss.  How  improperly, 
therefore,  do  we  continue  to  refer  to  our  annual  toll  of 
burned  property  as  "Property  Fire  Loss".'*  It  is  destruc- 
tion; deplorable  because  preventable,  criminal  because 
murderous. 

North  Carolina  waged  a  more  intensive  campaign  in  the 
cause  of  fire  prevention  during  the  past  year  than  in  any 
like  period  of  its  history;  yet  166  persons  lost  their  lives  in 
burning  buildings,  while  property  destruction  reached  the 
unprecedented  sum  of  37,500,000.  Are  we  becoming  more 
thoughtless,  more  careless,  more  wasteful,  or  must  we  admit 
that  we  are  becoming  a  State  of  incendiarists.?  Let  each 
community  determine  the  cause  and  meet  the  problem  with 


118  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

a  determination  to  apprehend  the  criminal,  reform  the 
careless,  and  eliminate  the  enormous  and  unnecessary 
iire  waste. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  in  order  to  emphasize  our  dereliction  and 
our  imminent  danger,  and  to  arouse  in  our  people  a  more 
active  interest  in  fire  prevention,  do  hereby  set  aside  and 
designate,  Monday,  the  ninth  day  of  October,  1922,  the 
fifty-first  Anniversary  of  the  Great  Chicago  Fire,  as  Fire 
Prevention  Day,  and  urge  our  citizens  to  observe  it  in  such 
a  way  as  to  visualize  and  prevent  the  irreparable  loss  we 
annually  sustain  through  individual  neglect. 

The  accumulation  of  rubbish,  waste,  and  other  combus- 
tible material  should  be  made  a  crime  as  well  as  a  reproach. 

Local  authorities  are  urged  to  give  publicity  to  fire 
prevention  ordinances,  to  inspect  thoroughly  all  business 
and  residential  premises  with  the  view  of  eliminating 
conditions  which  may  cause  fire. 

Public  and  private  institutions  are  urged  to  make  a 
thorough  examination  of  heating  apparatus,  chimneys, 
and  to  effect  such  changes  as  will  properly  safeguard  the 
lives  of  occupants. 

Institutions,  factories,  public,  parochial  and  private 
schools  are  urged  to  instruct  their  pupils  as  to  the  dangers 
of  fire  and  accident,  and  the  simplest  means  of  prevention, 
to  hold  fire  drills  in  order  to  facilitate  escape  without 
panic. 

Your  individual  cooperation  with  your  Fire  Department, 
your  Building  Inspector,  and  the  State  Insurance  Depart- 
ment will  go  far  towards  eliminating  the  cause  of  fires  and 
making  North  Carolina  safe  for  life  and  property. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  18th  day  of 

September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-two,    and    in    the    one 

hundred   and   forty-seventh   year  of  our  American 

Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary, 


Proclamations  119 


ARMISTICE  DAY,  1922 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Pursuant  with  the  provisions  of  Chapter  287  of  the 
Public  Laws  of  1919, 

I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North  CaroHna,  do 
hereby  proclaim  Saturday,  November  11,  1922,  a  legal 
holiday  in  this  State,  commemorating  the  signing  of  the 
armistice  on  November  11,  1918,  when  Prussianism  yielded 
to  Democracy  and  victory  perched  upon  the  banners  of 
those  who  had  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  humanity. 

I  call  upon  the  people  of  our  State  to  observe  the  day 
in  an  appropriate  manner,  not  in  a  spirit  of  haughty  pride, 
but  with  a  sense  of  profound  gratitude  to  Almighty  God, 
Ruler  of  the  world's  destinies. 

Done  in  the  city  of  Raleigh  on  this  the  fourth 

day   of  November,    in   the   year   of  our   Lord   one 

[seal]  thousand    nine    hundred    and    twenty-two,    and    in 

the    one    hundred    and    forty-seventh    year   of   our 

American    Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1922 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  hy  the  Governor 

In  keeping  with  that  beautiful  and  time-honored  custom 
which  has  found  a  permanent  place  among  the  traditions 
of  our  national  life,  and  has  been  handed  down  from  one 


120  Papers  of  Cameron  AIorrison 

generation  to  another  by  the  presidents  of   the  Republic 
and  the  governors  of  the  several  states, 

I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do 
hereby  proclaim  and  set  apart  Thursday,  November  30, 
1922,  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  and  call  upon  the  people  to 
observe  it  reverently  by  suspending  all  business,  except 
that  incident  to  the  actual  needs  of  humanity,  and  assem- 
bling at  their  respective  places  of  worship,  in  order  that  we 
may  publicly  return  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  the 
blessings  He  has  bestowed  upon  us  during  the  year  now 
drawing  to  a  close,  renew  our  allegiance  to  Him  and  seek 
guidance  for  the  future. 

We  have  passed  through  crises,  but  without  bitterness  or 
bloodshed,  because  we  are  a  united  people,  and  the  spirit 
of  brotherly  love  has  prevailed.  No  great  calamity  has 
befallen  us.  Law  and  order  have  been  respected.  We 
have  held  fast  to  the  faith  of  our  fathers;  and,  consequently, 
we  have  enjoyed  that  real,  abiding  prosperity  which  comes 
only  to  a  God-fearing  people.  Our  accomplishments  have 
been  many  and  the  future  holds  great  possibilities  for 
advancement  along  all  lines. 

Let  us  render  thanks  for  these  and  for  all  other  blessings, 
and  let  us  publicly  acknowledge  our  dependence  upon 
God  for  all  things  worth  while. 

I  respectfully  ask  that  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  at 
their  Thanksgiving  services,  invoke  Divine  guidance  for  all 
In  civil  authority,  that  they  may  have  a  deep  sense  of  their 
obligations  to  God  as  v/ell  as  to  the  people  they  serve. 

Done  in  our  city  of  Raleigh,  on  this  the  eighteenth 

day   of   November,    in   the   year   of   our   Lord   one 
[seal]  thousand    nine    hundred    and    twenty-two,    and    In 

the    one    hundred    and    forty-seventh    year    of   our 

American  Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


Proclamations  121 


CLEAN-UP  WEEK,  1923 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Cleanliness  is  not  only  next  to  godliness  but  partakes  of 
it  in  that  it  points  to  the  saving  of  human  life.  This  is 
true  not  only  in  the  care  of  the  human  body  but  in  the 
prevention  of  fires  and  accidents  which  take  each  year  an 
appalling  toll  of  lives. 

In  failing  to  remove  from  our  homes  and  places  of  business 
all  rubbish  and  fire  breeding  conditions  we  set  aside  both  the 
laws  of  God  and  man,  accepting  the  charge  of  criminal 
negligence  and  inviting  the  murderous  sacrifice  of  human 
life  as  well  as  the  wanton  destruction  of  property. 

In  the  38,000,000  loss  of  property  in  North  Carolina  by 
fire  during  the  past  year  no  statistics  will  ever  be  able  to 
measure  our  individual  guilt  nor  penalize  our  carelessness, 
yet  the  responsibility  is  there,  and  the  fact  that  it  is  a 
public  burden,  an  open  reproach,  does  not  lessen  the 
personal  offense. 

Cleanliness  in  our  lives,  in  our  homes,  in  our  places  of 
business,  is  a  duty  we  owe  our  families,  our  neighbors  and 
friends.  Let  us  glorify  that  duty  in  the  discharge  of  it. 
Cleanliness  is  impossible  amongst  trash  and  rubbish;  then 
let  us  clean  up. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  in  order  to  impress  upon  our  people  the  menace 
of  carelessness  and  to  induce  a  general  and  active  interest 
in  fire  and  accident  prevention,  do  hereby  designate  the 
week  of  March  26  to  31,  1923,  as  Clean-up  Week  and 
urge  that  it  be  observed  by  devoting  a  part  of  each  day  to 
a  thorough  inspection  of  attics,  closets,  basements,  storage 
rooms,  and  the  remioval  of  all  waste,  trash,  or  other  accu- 
mulation that  might  cause  a  fire  or  accident. 

Let  us  accept  a  personal  responsibility  in  making  North 
Carolina  safe  for  life  and  property  by  first  cleaning  up  our 
own  premises  and  then  cooperating  with  our  city  authorities 


122  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

and  State  Insurance  Department  in  removing  hazardous 
conditions  from  our  schools,  institutions,  factories  and 
other  pubHc  places. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh  this  the  sixth  day 

of  March,   in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-three,    and    in    the   one 

hundred    and    forty-eighth    year    of   our   American 

Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


"BUNDLE  DAY,"  1923 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  it  has  been  established  that  the  suifering 
Armenians  and  other  Christian  people  of  the  Near  East  are, 
from  reasons  beyond  their  control,  unable  to  rehabilitate 
themselves;  and 

Whereas,  it  is  reported  by  reliable  Americans  that, 
aside  from  the  old  clothing  which  America  sends  them, 
these  people  have  nothing  but  burlap  bags  and  flour  sacks 
to  keep  out  the  cold  of  winter,  their  climate  being  similar 
to  our  New  England  States;  and 

Whereas,  unless  sufficient  clothing  is  sent  from  America 
this  summer  many  thousands  will  freeze  to  death  next 
winter;  and 

Whereas,  the  North  Carolina  Division  of  the  Near  East 
Relief  has  set  150,000  pounds  of  warm  usable  clothing, 
which  it  is  estimated  will  save  30,000  humans  from  death 
by  freezing  next  winter,  as  its  goal; 

Therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  do  hereby  declare  May  1,  1923,  "Bundle  Day," 
and  request  the  people  of  our  State  to  gather  all  of  their 


Proclamations  123 

discarded  winter  clothing  and  either  turn  it  over  to  their 
Near  East  Relief  County  Chairman  or  other  agency  which 
is  collecting  clothing  for  the  Near  East  Relief,  or  send  it 
to  the  Near  East  Clothing  Warehouse  in  Raleigh,  where  it 
will  be  sent  with  all  possible  dispatch  to  the  suffering 
Christian  people  across  the  sea. 
This  the  9th  day  of  April,  1923. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


MOTHERS'  DAY,  1923 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Pursuant  with  the  provisions  of  resolution  No.  38, 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1921,  I  hereby  proclaim 
Sunday,  May  13,  1923,  Mothers'  Day  and  call  upon  the 
people  of  North  Carolina  reverently  to  observe  it. 

As  a  public  expression  of  love  and  respect  for  motherhood, 
you  are  asked  to  display  the  National  colors.  Each 
individual  is  requested  to  wear  a  flower,  in  honor  of  his  or 
her  mother,  whether  she  is  living  or  dead. 

The  above,  at  best,  are  merely  the  outward  signs  of  an 
inward  devotion,  which  each  heart  must  interpret  for 
itself.  Each  soul  must  light  its  own  altar  fires  on  Mothers' 
Day. 

This  the  8th  day  of  May,   1923. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


124  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


CITIZENS  MILITARY  TRAINING  CAMPS 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

I  hope  that  every  young  man  who  can  arrange  to  do  so 
will  attend  one  of  the  Citizens  Military  Training  Camps 
to  be  conducted  by  the  Fourth  Corps  Area,  in  which  unit 
of  our  national  military  organization,  North  Carolina  is 
found.  We  have  a  traditional  military  policy  which 
definitely  provides  for  a  small  army  of  regular  soldiers  which 
is  augmented  in  times  of  national  emergency  by  citizen 
soldiery.  A  wise  provision  of  our  national  defense  provides 
that  the  frame  work  of  the  organization  of  the  citizen 
soldiery  shall  be  developed  in  times  of  peace  through  the 
patriotic  service  of  our  young  men.  The  training  under  our 
law  is  entirely  voluntary.  These  camps  offer  a  vacation 
opportunity  which  has  proved  of  inestimable  benefit  to 
those  who  in  the  past  two  years  have  had  the  benefit  of 
their  training.  The  purpose  of  these  camps  is  to  promote 
good  health,  good  citizenship  and  a  capacity  and  willingness 
for  national  service  in  time  of  need.  Our  boys  can  either 
go  to  Camp  McClellan  near  Anniston,  Alabama,  to  Fort 
Barancas  near  Pensacola,  Florida,  or  to  Fort  Bragg,  near 
Fayetteville,  North  Carolina.  These  camps  begin  August 
1  and  conclude  on  August  30.  The  government  pays 
all  expenses.  Including  transportation,  uniform,  food  and 
medical  care,  and  exacts  no  service  obligation  for  such 
attendance. 

The  camp  schedule  calls  for  elementary  drill  in  the 
beginning  and  later  for  special  training  in  the  different 
branches  of  the  service.  Physical  health  and  development 
are  especially  emphasized.  The  army  sergeant  examines 
each  candidate  carefully  on  his  admission  to  camp  and  a 
record  is  made  of  each  man's  progress  during  the  month 
of  training.  A  large  part  of  each  day  Is  given  over  to 
athletic  sports  under  expert  supervision.  Army  chaplains 
of  different  faith  care  for  the  moral  and  religious  life  of 


Proclamations  125 

those  at  the  camps.  The  training  given  results  in  a  broad- 
ening of  the  views  and  an  increase  of  the  value  of  our 
youth   as   citizens. 

General  Albert  L.  Cox  as  State  Civilian  Aide  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  has  charge  of  applications  from  North 
Carolina  for  these  camps,  and  information  together  with 
application  blanks  may  be  secured  from  him  or  from 
the  chairman  appointed  in  each  county,  or  from  any 
regular  officer  on  duty  in  the  State. 

I  cannot  recommend  too  highly  the  training  given  to 
our  youth  by  these  camps,  and  urge  upon  the  men  of  the 
State  their  interest  and  cooperation  in  seeing  that  North 
Carolina  recognizes  its  opportunity  by  filling  the  quota 
allowed  it. 

This  the  20th  day  of  June,  1923. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


FUNERAL  SERVICES  OF  PRESIDENT  HARDING 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Funeral  services  over  the  remains  of  the  late  beloved 
President  of  the  United  States  will  be  held  in  the  Capitol 
at  Washington  during  the  noon  hour  on  Wednesday  the 
eighth,  and  I  ask  the  people  of  the  State  on  that  day  and 
at  the  hour  of  twelve  noon  to  suspend  all  business  for 
fifteen  minutes. 

On  Friday,  the  tenth,  at  some  hour  vv^hlch  has  not  been 
definitely  fixed  at  this  time,  the  remains  of  the  President 
will  be  interred  in  the  city  of  Marion,  in  the  state  of  Ohio. 
The  hour  will  be  announced  by  the  press  later,  and  can 
become  known   to   the  people.     At  the  hour  of  interment 


126  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

in  Marion,  Ohio,  I  ask  the  people  of  the  State  to  arrange 
in  every  community  in  the  State  to  have  a  joint  rehgious 
service,  and  pay  spoken  tribute  to  the  great  pubUc  servant 
who  has  departed. 

I  am  sure  in  this  hour  of  sorrow  and  sadness  over  the 
death  of  our  President  we  recognize  the  smallness  of  party 
differences  between  the  citizens  of  our  great  country,  and 
that  in  all  fundamental  principles  of  Americanism  we  are 
one  people  and  have  sustained  a  universal  loss. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  has  set  aside  Friday, 
the  tenth,  as  a  day  of  mourning  and  prayer,  and  I  hope 
upon  this  day  the  people  of  North  Carolina  will  suspend  all 
social  amusements,  refrain  from  everything  of  a  festive 
and  merry  character,  and  in  every  possible  way  make  due 
acknowledgment  of  our  dependence  upon  God. 

This  the  6th  day  of  August,  1923. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


JAPANESE  DISASTER 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Gover^ior 

The  great  disaster  which  has  befallen  the  people  of 
Japan  necessitated  an  urgent  Red  Cross  appeal  to  the 
entire  country  for  five  millions  of  dollars  with  which  to 
enable  this  great  organization  to  carry  proper  help  to 
distressed  Japan,  and  North  Carolina  has  been  asked  by 
the  Red  Cross  to  give  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  of  this 
sum.  Our  quota  is  small,  and  I  most  urgently  appeal  to 
the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  make  prompt  and  generous 
response  to  the  appeal  of  the  Red  Cross  for  funds  with 
which  to  meet  this  sacred  duty  of  humanity. 


Proclamations  127 

North  Carolina  has  been  unusually  blessed  in  material 
things  this  year  when  compared  with  the  many  distressed 
disasters  elsewhere  in  the  country,  and  I  hope  there  will 
be  an  expression  of  appreciation  of  our  blessings  through  a 
prompt  giving  of  the  small  sum  requested  for  the  aid  of 
suifering  Japan. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  sixth  day 

of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-three,    and    in    the   one 

hundred    and    forty-eighth    year    of   our   American 


Independence. 


Cameron  Morrison,   Governor. 


By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


ARMISTICE  DAY,  1923 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Under  the  provisions  of  Chapter  287  of  the  Public  Laws 
of  1919  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  Governor  annually  to 
proclaim  and  set  aside  November  11,  Armistice  Day,  as  a 
legal  holiday.     This  year  this  date  falls  on  Sunday. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  do  hereby  proclaim  and  set  aside  Monday,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1923,  as  a  legal  holiday  commemorating  the  signing 
of  the  armistice  and  I  earnestly  call  upon  the  people  of  the 
State  to  observe  it  with  appropriate  exercises,  not  in  a 
boastful  spirit  but  with  gratitude  to  the  God  of  nations 
who  brought  us  through  the  conflict  victorious,  because 
the  fight  was  a  just  one. 


128  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Done  at  the  city  of  Raleigh  on  this  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
[seal]  thousand    nine   hundred    twenty-three,    and    in   the 
one  hundred  and  forty-eighth  year  of  our  American 
Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1923 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

North  CaroUna  has  been  blessed  with  a  year  of  great 
prosperity  in  material  things.  On  the  farm,  in  the  factory, 
and  in  every  line  of  business,  God  has  most  generously 
rewarded  the  labors  of  our  people. 

We  have  been  led  by  God  to  make  a  liberal  use  of  our 
material  prosperity  for  the  benefit  of  the  defective,  and 
for  improved   educational  opportunities   for  our  children; 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  following  the  previous  action  of  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  in  his  proclamation  of  Novem- 
ber 6,  1923,  do  hereby  proclaim  and  set  apart  Thursday, 
November  29,  1923,  as  Thanksgiving  Day  and  call  upon 
our  people  to  observe  the  day  by  assembling  in  their 
respective  places  of  religious  worship  and  giving  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  for  his  many  mercies  and  blessings  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  of  this  State,  and  to  pray 
for  Divine  guidance  in  the  future.  May  I  implore  the 
people  of  strength  on  Thanksgiving  Day  to  remember  the 
orphan,  and  the  weak  and  defective  of  every  class  by  some 
act  of  generosity  and  helpfulness. 


Proclamations  129 

Done  in  the  city  of  Raleigh  on  this  the  fifteenth 
day  of  November,   in  the  year  of  our  Lord   1923, 
[seal]  and  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-eighth  year  of  our 
American  Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


WOODROW  WILSON'S  DEATH 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Woodrow  Wilson,  after  a  long  illness,  died  at  11:15 
o'clock  this  morning  in  Washington  City.  The  hour  of 
the  funeral  has  not  been  announced.  It  can  be  ascertained 
from  the  press  later. 

As  an  expression  of  respect  for  the  great  Ex-President, 
I  ask  that  all  business  be  suspended  for  thirty  minutes 
during  the  funeral  services  and  that  our  people  refrain  from 
all  social  merriment  and  festivity  from  now  until  after 
the  funeral. 

He  was  our  President  for  eight  years,  and  guided  our 
country  through  the  great  world  conflagration.  It  broke 
his  health  and  killed  him.  It  was  for  his  country  and 
humanity  that  he  labored,  suffered  and  died. 

Announcement  of  a  date  and  hour  for  State-wide  memorial 
services  will  be  made  later. 

Done   at  our  city  of  Raleigh,   this   the  4th   day 
of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1924,  and  in 
[seal]  the  one  hundred  and  forty-eighth  yearof  our  American 
Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


130  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


WOODROW   WILSON    MEMORIAL    SUNDAY 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  hy  the  Governor 

In  addition  to  the  marks  of  respect  which  I  have  asked 
the  people  of  North  CaroHna  to  show  to  the  memory  of 
our  great  Ex-President,  Woodrow  Wilson,  until  after  the 
funeral  services  tomorrow,  with  the  approval  of  the  Council 
of  State,  I  hereby  appoint  Sunday,  the  tenth  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, at  3 :30  o'clock,  p.m.,  as  the  occasion  for  memo- 
rial services  throughout  the  State,  when  the  deep  sense  of 
loss,  reverence  and  appreciation  for  the  life  and  public 
services  of  this  great  deceased  world  leader  can  be  given 
expression. 

We  suggest  that  in  every  city,  town  and  community 
throughout  the  State  the  people  arrange  a  joint  meeting 
place  for  appropriate  religious  and  memorial  services  at 
the  hour  named. 

Done  in  the  city  of  Raleigh  on  this  the  fifth  day 

of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-four,    and    in    the    one 

hundred    and    forty-eighth    year    of    our   American 

Independence. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


MOTHERS'  DAY,  1924 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Pursuant  with  the  provisions  of  resolution  No.  38, 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1921  in  regular  session, 
I,    Cameron   Morrison,   Governor   of  North   Carolina,    do 


Proclamations  131 

hereby  proclaim  and  set  aside  Sunday,  May  11,  1924,  as 
Mothers'  Day  and  call  upon  the  people  of  the  State  to 
observe  it  in  their  homes  and  in  the  churches. 

Following  the  spirit  of  the  resolution,  I  earnestly  request 
that  wherever  it  is  possible  children  visit  their  mothers  on 
next  Sunday  and  that  where  this  is  not  possible,  they  write 
them  letters;  also  that  every  North  Carolinian  wear  a 
flower  in  honor  of  his  or  her  mother,  whether  she  is  living 
or  dead. 

Issued  this  the  6th  day  of  May,  1924. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


NATIONAL  DEFENSE 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  author- 
ized the  War  Department  to  proceed  with  the  project  for 
a  demonstration  of  national  defense  plans  on  September  12, 
1924,  the  sixth  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  St.  Mihiel;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  of  vital  necessity  for  the  success  of  the 
defense  test  that  every  patriotic  citizen  lend  his  or  her 
hearty  support;  now,  therefore: 

I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do 
solemnly  and  earnestly  enjoin  each  and  every  citizen  of  this 
State  to  do  the  utmost  in  his  or  her  respective  power,  either 
by  active  participation  or  sympathetic  support,  to  demon- 
strate fully  the  patriotic  spirit  of  this  great  State  and  cause 
the  aforesaid  defense  test  to  be  a  complete  success. 


132  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Done  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  eighth  day 

of  August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one   thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-four,    and    in    the    one 

hundred    and    forty-ninth    year    of    our    American 


Independence. 


Cameron  Morrison,   Governor 


By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


FIRE  PREVENTION  WEEK,  1924 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  hy  the  Governor 

"Willful  waste  makes  woeful  want,"  and  since  two- 
thirds  of  our  fires  are  preventable  they  are  unnecessary 
and  fall  within  the  class  of  willful  waste.  The  total  fire 
loss  in  the  United  States  for  one  year  is  more  than  five 
hundred  million  dollars.  In  North  Carolina  this  fire  waste 
has  reached  the  enormous  sum  of  more  than  six  million 
dollars  a  year.  It  makes  toil  fruitless,  for  no  amount  of 
labor  can  restore  property  destroyed  by  fire. 

Individual  carefulness  and  the  assumption  of  personal 
responsibility  for  fires  constitute  our  only  hope  of  a 
permanent  cure  for  this  delinquency  in  our  citizenship. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  do  urge  the  concerted  effort  of  the  people  of  this 
State  in  the  direction  of  its  avowed  aim  to  make  North 
Carolina  safe  for  life  and  property  by  the  prevention  of 
fires,  and  do  hereby  designate  the  week  of  October  5  to 
11,  1924,  as  Fire  Prevention  Week. 

Remembering  then  that  unmeasured  ill  is  bound  to  follow 
unnecessary  waste,  let  every  citizen  of  our  Commonwealth 
make  safe  from  fire  his  own  premises  by  removing  all  fire 
breeding  conditions,  and  cooperate  with  the  Fire  Prevention 


Proclamations  133 

Bureau  of  the  State  Insurance  Department  in  spreading  the 
gospel  of  fire  prevention  during  the  week  above  designated, 
and  let  the  city  officials,  civic  organizations,  churches, 
schools,  newspapers  and  all  public  institutions  lay  the 
matter  with  emphasis  before  all  people  within  their  reach. 
Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  31st  day  of 

September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
[seal]  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four,  and  the  one  hundred 

and  forty-eighth  year  of  our  American  Independence. 
Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


ARBOR  DAY,  1924 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Whereas,  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  area  of  North 
Carolina  is  now  covered  by  forest  growth,  the  greater  part 
of  which  has  been  cut  over  by  lumbermen  and  devastated 
by  fire  to  such  an  extent  that  its  annual  yield  is  less  than 
one-half  what  it  should  be;  and 

Whereas,  the  soil  is  the  material  source  of  our  strength 
and  upon  its  right  use  depends  the  permanent  prosperity 
of  the  State;  and 

Whereas,  the  present  generation  is  coming  to  reahze 
that  the  use  of  the  forest  and  the  soil  has  not  been  in 
accordance  with  proper  economy  in  as  much  as  forests  have 
been  destroyed  by  axe  and  fire,  steep  lands  have  been  cleared 
and  unwisely  used  and  ruinously  cultivated;  and 

Whereas,  the  coming  generation  of  forest  and  soil  users 
is  now  in  our  public  schools;  and  upon  the  school  children 
of  the  State  is  to  fall  the  task  of  repairing  the  loss  caused 
by  our  carelessness  or  indiflterence;  and 


134  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  has  seen  fit 
to  enact  an  Arbor  Day  law; 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  realizing  the  value  which  the 
suitable  observance  of  this  day  will  be  to  the  State  in 
interesting  the  rising  generation  in  a  proper  appreciation 
of  our  forests,  our  birds,  our  trees  and  our  shrubs,  do  hereby 
proclaim  that  Friday,  the  seventh  day  of  November, 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-four,  shall  be  appro- 
priately observed  as  Arbor  Day  by  the  teachers  and  children 
of  all  the  public  schools  of  the  State  by  recitations,  drills, 
songs  and  exercises  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  and  by 
the  planting  of  trees  and  shrubs  on  the  school  grounds. 

Let  this  be  done  that  the  purpose  of  Arbor  Day  may  be 

imbued  upon  us  and  upon  the  youth  and  interest  awakened 

in   a  subject  the  consideration  of  which  will  add  to  our 

general  prosperity  and  the  future  wealth  of  North  Carolina, 

and  will  greatly  add  to  the  happiness  of  us  and  our  children. 

Done  at  our  city  of  Raleigh,  this  the  28th  day  of 

October,    in   the   year   of   our   Lord    one   thousand 

[seal]  nine    hundred    and    twenty-four,    and    in    the    one 

hundred    and    forty-ninth    year    of    our    American 


Independence. 


Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


ARMISTICE  DAY,  1924 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Pursuant  with  the  provisions  of  the  North  Carolina  law 
on  the  subject  and  in  conformity  with  what  has  become 
an  established  custom,  I  hereby  proclaim  and  set  aside 
Tuesday,  November  11,  1924,  as  a  public  holiday  in  this 


Proclamations  135 

State  and  call  upon  our  people  to  observe  it  as  the  sixth 
anniversary  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice  that  ended 
active  hostihties  of  the  World  War.  It  is  fitting  that 
patriotic  celebrations  should  be  held  throughout  the 
State,  commemorating  that  memorable  event  when  autoc- 
racy bowed  before  democracy. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 


THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1924 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

Gratitude  to  Almighty  God  has  ever  been  a  dominant 
factor  in  our  national  and  domestic  hfe.  While  our  Repub- 
lic was  yet  in  its  infancy,  the  beautiful  custom  of  setting 
apart  one  day  in  each  year  for  the  specific  purpose  of 
returning  thanks  to  Him  was  established.  This  custom 
has  been  perpetuated  by  the  chief  executives  of  the 
Nation  and  the  governors  of  the  several  states  until  it 
has  become  one  of  our  most  ancient  and  honorable  customs. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  do  hereby  proclaim  and  set  apart  Thursday, 
November  27,  1924,  as  Thanksgiving  Day  and  call  upon 
our  people  to  observe  it  in  a  spirit  of  reverence  and 
gratitude. 

Let  all  unnecessary  business  be  suspended  on  that  day, 
in  order  that  all  may  have  the  opportunity  to  gather  about 
their  family  altars  and  to  attend  public  worship  in  the 
churches,  to  express  thanks  to  God  for  his  loving  kindness 
tov/ard  us. 

During  the  year  now  fast  drawing  to  a  close  we  have 
been    singularly    blessed    along    all    lines.     Material    pros- 


136  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

perity  has  been  ours.  The  God  of  harvest  has  crowned 
our  agricultural  efforts  with  success  and  mother  earth  has 
yielded  proper  and  wholesome  food  for  the  nourishment  of 
our  bodies.  The  hand  of  God  has  protected  us  from  famine 
and  plague.  We  have  been  spared  from  serious  epidemics. 
The  cause  of  education  has  been  advanced;  the  spirit  of 
enlightenment  has  continued  to  drive  back  the  darkness  of 
ignorance  and  illiteracy.  Our  social  and  industrial  relations 
have  been  unmarred  by  strife  and  discord.  We  have 
dwelt  together  in  unity  of  purpose.  The  cause  of  Christ 
has  been  strengthened  through  a  sympathetic  cooperation 
on  the  part  of  our  people,  as  shown  in  reports  submitted 
to  the  various  religious  gatherings  recently  held  in  our 
State. 

For  these  and  all  other  blessings  that  we  have  enjoyed 
during  the  year  let  us  return  sincere  thanks,  at  the  same 
time  invoking  Divine  guidance  in  all  our  undertakings  and 
reconsecrating  our  lives  to  the  service  of  God  and  our 
fellow-men. 

Issued  this  the  22d  day  of  November,  1924. 
[seal]  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS 

Executive  Department 
Raleigh 

A  Proclamation  by  the  Governor 

I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  do 
hereby  certify  that  it  has  been  legally  ascertained  that 
at  the  election  held  in  this  State  Tuesday,  November  4, 
1924,  the  following  were  duly  elected  as  Electors  of  President 
and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States.     They  are  hereby 


Proclamations  137 

publicly  notified  and  directed,  as  required  by  law,  to  meet 
in  the  State  Capitol  at  Raleigh  on  Monday,  January  12, 
at  noon,  there  to  cast  the  electoral  vote  of  the  State  for 
President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States. 

Walter  D.  Siler,  Elector  at  Large. 

D.  F.  Giles,  Elector  at  Large. 

Herbert  R.  Leary  of  the  First  Congressional  District. 

J.  H.  Matthews  of  the  Second  Congressional  District. 

W.  A.  Brown  of  the  Third  Congressional  District. 

Thos.  W.  Ruffin  of  the  Fourth  Congressional  District.  ^ 

F.  W.  Hancock,  Jr.,  of  the  Fifth  Congressional  District. 

Murchison  Walker  of  the  Sixth  Congressional  District. 

K.  R.  Hoyle  of  the  Seventh  Congressional  District. 

J.  M.  Boyette  of  the  Eighth  Congressional  District. 

Geo.  W.  Wilson  of  the  Ninth  Congressional  District. 

C.  C.  Buchanan  of  the  Tenth  Congressional  District. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  Cameron  Morrison,  Gover- 
[seal]  nor  of  North  Carolina,  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  affixed 
this  the  9th  day  of  January,   1925. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


APPEALS  TO  THE  PUBLIC 


THE  EX-SERVICE  MEN  TO  JOIN  THE 
AMERICAN  LEGION 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  April  19,  1922. 

To  the  Ex-Service  Men  of  North  Carolina: 

It  has  been  officially  brought  to  my  attention  by  Dan  S. 
Hollenga  of  Hamlet,  National  Committeeman  for  North 
Carolina  for  the  American  Legion,  that  the  Legion  is 
engaged  in  a  membership  campaign  and  that  he  is  very 
anxious  for  North  Carolina  to  lead  all  other  States. 

Mr.   Hollenga   makes   this   interesting  statement: 

At  the  beginning  of  the  race,  we  were  not  among  the  twenty  honor 
states;  a  little  later  we  took  sixteenth  place,  and  then  made  the  first 
"home  run,"  taking  twelfth  place.  A  week  later  we  took  eleventh 
place,  and  I  am  trying  my  very  best  to  get  us  in  first  place.  Wallgren, 
the  famous  cartoonist,  has  made  me  a  cartoon  showing  North  Carolina 
leading  all  the  other  states. 

Mr.  Hollenga  requests  that  I  address  a  communication 
to  the  ex-service  men  of  North  Carolina,  urging  them  to 
help  put  North  Carolina  at  the  head  of  the  list  in  this 
great  American  Legion  membership  campaign.  This  I 
cheerfully  do.  It  is  nothing  but  fitting  that  the  State  whose 
sons  smashed  the  Hindenburg  line  should  take  the  leader- 
ship in  this  campaign.  Therefore,  I  appeal  to  every  ex- 
service  man  in  North  Carolina  who  has  not  done  so,  to 
connect  himself  with  the  American  Legion.  Organization 
means  strength.  It  not  only  means  strength  in  the  generally 
accepted  term,  but  it  will  mean  strength  in  after  years  in 
the  matter  of  keeping  the  records  straight  and  seeing  that 
North  Carolina,  when  history  is  fully  written,  shall  receive 
the  credit  that  it  is  due.  We  begrudge  no  state  its  just 
merits.  The  World  War  taught  us  tolerance  and  to  give 
credit  where  credit  is  due.  At  the  same  time,  if  we  do  not 
hold  up  our  record,  nobody  will  do  it  for  us. 

In  addressing  this  letter  to  the  ex-service  men  of  the 
State,   I   wish   also  to  congratulate  the  American  Legion 


142  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

on  the  progress  it  has  thus  far  made  in  the  campaign,  and 
to  asssure  its  leaders  of  my  best  wishes. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


OBSERVE  CRIPPLE  CENSUS  WEEK 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  October  9,  1922. 
To  the  People  of  North  Carolina: 

It  is  the  inahenable  right  of  every  one  of  God's  creatures 
to  have  the  opportunity  to  Hve  his  or  her  Hfe  as  usefully  and 
as  happily  as  possible;  and  since  every  person  has  the  right, 
we,  as  citizens  of  a  great  and  benevolent  Commonwealth, 
■owe  it  to  those  who  are  physically  incapacitated  to  do  all 
within  our  power  to  either  eliminate  or  alleviate  their 
disabilities.  In  the  fulfillment  of  this  obHgation,  we  will 
not  only  be  of  real  service  to  the  maimed  and  crippled, 
but  will  serve  our  State. 

In  order  that  as  many  of  such  people  as  possible  within 
the  borders  of  our  State  may  receive  assistance  that  will 
aid  them  in  rehabilitating  themselves,  I  earnestly  request 
the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  set  aside  the  period  of 
October  30  to  November  4,  inclusive,  as  Cripple  Census 
Week,  and  urge  that  during  that  time,  especially,  all  our 
citizens  who  may  know  of  crippled  persons  notify  officials 
of  the  Department  of  Vocational  Rehabilitation  of  the  State 
Department  of  Public  Instruction  and  the  Bureau  of  Child 
Welfare  or  the  State  Department  of  Public  Welfare,  who 
have  these  matters  in  charge. 

By  thus  taking  a  census  of  those  of  our  people  who  are 
physically  disabled  or  incapacitated  because  of  some 
bodily  impairment  and  whenever  possible,  securing  treat- 
ment or  vocational  training  for  them,  we  will  surely  help 
to  improve  the  usefulness  and  welfare  of  a  portion  of  our 
population  which  merits  aid  from  those  of  us  who  are 
more  fortunate. 

Through  a  census,  the  Department  of  Vocational  Rehab- 
ilitation may  enlarge  its  work  in  helping  the  handicapped 


Appeals  to  the  Public  143 

man  or  woman  help  himself  or  herself,  and  the  Bureau  of 
Child  Welfare  may  widen  its  service  by  ascertaining  the 
number  of  crippled  children  who  need  treatment  and  by 
aiding  them  to  receive  it. 

Your  individual  cooperation  is  earnestly  sought.  I  feel 
that  this  appeal  will  meet  with  sympathetic  approval. 
In  seeking  out  the  crippled  of  your  community  and  giving 
their  names  to  the  superintendents  of  Public  Welfare, 
superintendents  of  schools,  health  officers,  nurses.  Farm 
and  Home  Demonstration  agents.  Red  Cross  and  Y  secre- 
taries, you  will  help  toward  the  rehabilitation  of  this  unfor- 
tunate portion  of  our  population,  and  will  increase  the 
general  welfare  of  North  Carolina. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


INCREASED   FOOD   PRODUCTION 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  1922. 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina: 

North  Carolina  has  been  pushed  to  a  high  comparative 
position  among  the  states  of  the  Union  in  the  production 
on  our  farms  of  money  crops  for  the  market;  but  our  whole 
agricultural  life  is  weakened  by  the  fact  that  we  have 
neglected  the  production  of  sufficient  food  on  the  farms  of 
the  State  to  make  our  agricultural  life  independent,  and 
give  it  strength  to  stand  the  periodic  vicissitudes  of  mis- 
fortune to  the  money  crops,  due  to  slump  in  prices,  or  other 
causes  sure  to  occur.  Much  improvement  has  been  made  in 
the  last  few  years  in  this  well  understood  weakness  of  the 
State,  but  there  is  yet  much  to  be  done.  It  is  hard  to  "get 
out  of  a  rut." 

A  highly  competent  authority  declared  recently:  "There 
is  not  a  single  county  in  the  State  in  which  there  is  raised 
enough  food  in  value  or  quantity  for  the  human  and 
animal  life  of  the  county." 


144  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

fight  weevil  with  food 

Independently  of  the  approach  of  the  boll  weevil,  this 
phase  of  our  agrlcltural  life  should  be  strengthened 
throughout  the  State;  but  the  approach  of  the  boll  weevil 
threatens  a  serious  blight  to  a  large  area  of  the  State, 
particularly  the  great  areas  devoted  largely  to  the  growth 
of  cotton.  If  the  boll  weevil  should  have  the  devastating 
effect  upon  the  crops  this  year  in  the  cotton  sections  of 
the  State  that  it  has  had  in  some  of  the  states  to  the  south 
of  us,  and  if  the  people  in  the  cotton  sections  of  the  State 
do  not  raise  more  food  supplies  for  themselves  and  their 
animals  than  they  have  heretofore  raised,  it  will  certainly 
result  in  widespread  suffering  and  destitution.  This  threat- 
ened danger  and  distress  can  be  largely  averted,  if  it  comes, 
as  there  is  reasonable  ground  to  fear  it  may,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  policy  adopted  in  the  agricultural  life  of  the  State  which 
will  greatly  strengthen  the  whole  life  of  our  people,  not  only 
in  the  cotton  sections,  but  in  the  entire  State. 

We  must  so  order  our  agriculture  as  not  to  require  the 
immense  outlay  of  money  rendered  necessary  largely  to  buy 
the  food  upon  which  the  people  live  who  grow  money  crops 
in  the  State  for  the  market.  The  small  farmers  and 
tenants  cannot  stand  the  periodic  slumps  which  occur  from 
various  causes,  and  the  wealthier  men  and  large  landowners 
cannot  withstand  the  boll  weevil  blight,  if  it  comes,  and 
feed  their  tenants  and  farm  laborers  through  it.  Buying 
our  food  elsewhere  and  raising  money  crops  requires  too  much 
capital,  and  is  too  hazardous  for  our  people  to  engage  in  on  an 
extensive  scale. 

DEPARTMENTS    COOPERATING 

I  have  made  every  effort  to  excite  the  interest  and  active 
efforts  of  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering, 
the  Agricultural  Department,  the  Department  of  Education, 
and  the  Health  Department  of  the  State  government  to 
lead  the  people  to  organize  and  prepare  without  delay  to 
increase  the  production  of  food  raised  in  the  State  for  home 
consumption,  not  only  in  the  threatened  areas,  but  in  the 
whole    State.     These    great    departments    of    our    State 


Appeals  to  the  Public  145 

government  are  splendidly  organized  and  equipped  to  help 
the  people  in  this  all-important  matter  and  they  are  now 
moving  with  energy  through  their  splendid  organization  of 
expert  men  to  help.  I  appeal  to  the  people  of  the  whole 
State  for  their  active  cooperation  in  the  movement. 

WE    MUST    INCREASE    OUR    HOME    SUPPLY    OF    MEAT 

We  cannot  raise  beef  profitably  In  a  large  part  of  the 
State,  but  we  can  raise  hogs  and  poultry  of  every  description 
on  account  of  our  long  summer  seasons  as  easily  and  cheaply 
as  it  can  be  done  anywhere  in  the  Union.  We  must  increase 
our  meat  supply  through  hogs  and  poultry.  We  can  raise 
vegetables  of  almost  every  known  variety;  and  keep  and  main- 
tain milch  cows  probably  more  cheaply  thafi  it  can  he  done 
elsewhere  in  the  Union.  If  we  would  but  realize  the  import- 
ance of  this  matter,  we  could  make  hog  meat,  chicken, 
turkey  and  other  foul  meat,  eggs,  butter  and  milk  so 
plentiful  in  the  State,  particularly  on  the  farm,  that  our 
food  bill  would  be  trifling  compared  to  the  enormous 
outlay,  with  the  business  hazards  accompanying  it,  which 
we  now  annually  pay. 

Independently  of  the  boll  weevil  threat,  because  of  the 
periodic  slumps  in  the  prices  of  cotton  and  tobacco,  now 
raised  at  such  enormous  hazard  upon  purchased  supplies, 
the  State  ought  to  tremendously  increase  hog  and  poultry 
raising,  home  gardening,  and  the  supply  of  milk,  butter  and 
eggs  in  the  State,  not  for  the  purpose  of  making  them  our 
money  crops,  but  in  order  to  have  abundant,  wholesome 
and  cheap  food,  whatever  vicissitudes  may  overtake  the 
money  crops;  but  the  approach  of  the  boll  weevil  makes 
it  absolute  folly  not  to  do  so. 

And  further,  our  illiterate  and  uninformed  people  ought 
to  be  made  more  generally  aware  of  the  supreme  importance 
to  health  of  the  balanced  ration,  and  of  an  enlightened 
world's  knowledge  of  the  necessity  of  nutritious  and  varied 
foods. 

APPEAL  TO  ALL  THE  PEOPLE 

In  furtherance  of  the  foregoing  purpose,  and  in  coope- 
ration with  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering, 

10 


146  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the  Board  of  Agriculture,  the  Department  of  Health,  and 
the  Department  of  Education,  I  appeal  to  the  people  of  the 
State  to  have  community  meetings,  and  give  consideration 
to  this  important  matter;  and  to  quickly  organize  for  the 
purpose  of  promoting  a  State-wide  program  for  more  and 
better  home  gardens,  a  heavy  increase  of  the  poultry  and 
eggs  and  milk  and  butter  supply,  and  the  raising  of  more 
hog  meat  in  the  State. 

We  urge  the  people  of  the  State  to  a  careful  study  of  how  to 
make  this  increase  in  food  in  the  State  economically^  and  that 
they  adhere  to  it,  not  only  during  the  threat  of  the  boll  weevil 
disaster,  hut  until  North  Carolina  becomes  a  great  food  raising 
State,  independent  of  the  threat  of  periodic  disaster  through 
failure  to  make  profit  on  the  crops. 

I  do  not  think  it  will  be  wise  for  our  people  generally  to 
undertake  at  first  to  raise  foodstuffs  for  the  market;  they 
will  not  be  successful  at  first  in  making  money,  and  will 
become  discouraged  and  stop.  In  course  of  time,  through 
study  and  experience,  we  are  quite  sure  these  foods  can  be 
raised  by  our  people  for  the  market  profitably;  but  present 
efforts  had  best  be  confined  to  supplying  the  family,  and 
feeding  the  labor  raising  the  money  crops. 

We  ought  also  to  raise  every  pound  of  food  necessary  for 
our  animals.  The  annual  bill  of  North  Carolina  for  food 
purchased  elsewhere  for  our  animals  is  enormous.  We 
must  raise  it  all.  It  is  pure  speculation  to  buy  food  for 
men  and  animals  upon  which  to  raise  cotton  and  tobacco 
in  North  Carolina.  Let  us  organize  and  learn  how  to  raise 
all  the  food  we  need  to  feed  the  animal  life  of  our  State 
as  well  as  the  people.  For  years  we  have  known  this  would 
make  the  State  rich  and  independent  and  yet  we  have 
failed  to  do  it. 

We  suggest  no  new  thing,  but  we  are  moving  with 
great  hope  that  we  can  arouse  the  people  to  do  what  they 
have  long  known  ought  to  be  done. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Appeals  to  the  Public  147 

HELP   REHABILITATE    ELON    COLLEGE 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  February  S,  1923. 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina:  - 

Calamity  has  befallen  one  of  the  State's  most  honored 
and  efficient  institutions  of  learning.  Elon  College  is  in 
ashes,   but  its   spirit   lives. 

The  call  for  funds  to  rebuild  has  gone  forth;  and  to  this 
appeal  it  is  my  pleasure  and  privilege  to  add  a  word  of 
exhortation  to  our  people.  I  hope  that  every  North 
Carolinian  who  can  do  so  will  contribute  liberally  toward 
the  rehabilitation  of  this  beacon  light  of  learning,  which 
had  gained  and  most  creditably  maintained  the  standard 
of  a  class  A.  college.  Contributions  may  be  addressed  to 
Dr.  W.  A.  Harper,  President  of  the  College,  at  Elon  College, 
North  Carolina. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


FOREST  PROTECTION  WEEK,  1923 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  23,  1923. 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina: 

His  Excellency,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  a 
proclamation  issued  March  5,  1923,  calls  upon  the  governors 
of  the  various  states  to  designate  and  set  aside  the  week 
of  April  22-29  as  Forest  Protection  Week. 

As  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  it  is  my  pleasure  to 
accede  to  this  request  and  to  call  upon  our  people  to  observe 
the  period  designated  by  the  President  in  an  appropriate 
manner.  The  President  asks  that  a  study  be  made  of  the 
waste  from  forest  fires  and  ways  of  preventing  and  reducing 
such  losses. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


148  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


THE  HARDING  MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  December  8,  1923. 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina: 

Upon  request  of  the  Harding  Memorial  Association,  I 
hereby  designate  the  period  of  December  9-16  as  Harding 
Memorial  Week  and  ask  that  on  Sunday,  December  9,  the 
min^isters  of  the  State,  in  their  respective  churches,  make 
some  fitting  reference  to  the  late  President,  consistent  with 
their  form  of  worship. 

I  have  appointed  the  Hon.  John  J.  Parker  of  Charlotte, 
Chairman  for  North  Carolina.  Under  his  direction  the 
work  of  raising  funds  for  a  memorial  to  President  Harding 
will  be  carried  on,  and  I  hope  the  response  will  be  generous. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


PURCHASE  AND  WEAR  A  POPPY 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  26,  1924. 

To  the  People  of  North  Carolina: 

Whereas,  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  expressed 
the  hope  that,  in  accordance  with  the  custom  established 
and  officially  supported  by  the  Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars, 
the  people  of  the  United  States  shall  wear  a  poppy  on 
May  thirtieth  "to  perpetuate  and  strengthen  the  national 
sentiment  of  obligation  to  those  who  served  their  country 
in  the  World  War,"  and 

Whereas,  poppies  are  being  made  by  disabled  service 
men  and  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  thereof  are  used  to 
alleviate  the  condition  of  disabled  comrades  and  their 
families; 

Now,  therefore,  I  urge  the  citizens  of  North  Carolina 
to  support  this  custom  by  purchasing  and  wearing  a  poppy 
on  May  thirtieth,  which  is  National  Memorial  Day. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


PUBLIC  ADDRESSES 


TRAINED  MEN  TAKING  THE  LEADERSHIP 
IN  THE  STATE 

ADDRESS    TO    THE    GRADUATING    CLASS    AT 
NORTH    CAROLINA    STATE    COLLEGE 

MAY  31,  1921 

I  congratulate  you,  gentlemen,  upon  having  won,  through 
your  industry  and  intelligence,  a  diploma,  or  certificate  of 
proficiency  from  this  great  institution  of  learning.  Your 
class  is  the  largest  one  ever  graduated  by  this  institution. 
I  am  truly  thankful  that  the  State  is  to  have  the  help  of 
ninety-nine  young  men  so  splendidly  equipped  and  ready 
for  the  service  of  the  State. 

I  am  a  great  believer  in  the  character  of  education  and 
training  given  by  this  institution.  In  many  important 
fields  of  the  State's  endeavor  men  are  better  equipped  and 
prepared  here  for  service  than  in  any  other  institution  of 
learning  in  our  State.  Our  institutions  of  higher  learning 
must  furnish  education  of  several  distinct  types.  The 
high  purpose  of  your  institution  is  to  furnish  the  State  with 
trained  engineers,  chemists,  educated  agriculturists,  and 
other  men  who  have  a  more  technical  and  practical  training 
than  is  given  by  the  other  institutions  set  up  by  the  State  for 
the  higher  education  of  our  people.  The  State  needs  men  of 
the  type  you  are  prepared  and  equipped  to  be.  The 
graduates  of  your  institution  are  taking  the  leadership  in 
manufacturing,  engineering,  farming,  and  all  business 
requiring  practical  and  technical  training.  This  practical 
training  is  not  in  conflict  with  general  culture,  but  supple- 
ments and  strengthens  it.  We  can  never  become  the 
strong  inventive  and  wealth  producing  State  which  we  ought 
to  be,  and  which  we  are  rapidly  becoming,  without  the 
leadership  of  the  type  of  men  which  this  great  institution 
declares   you   to  be. 

I  most  heartily  congratulate  you,  and  as  the  Governor 
of  the  State,  welcome  you  to  the  ranks  of  those  who  are  so 
splendidly   developing   our   mighty   resources,    and    taking 


152  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

from  the  old  State's  brow  the  stigma  of  poverty  and 
inefficiency  along  technical  and  practical  lines.  The  creation 
of  wealth  is  absolutely  necessary  to  progress  in  every 
direction  in  which  good  men  and  women  are  looking. 
Money  and  material  things  are  not  above  spiritual  and 
cultural  things,  but  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  have 
wealth  for  the  State  to  progress  in  its  religious,  patriotic 
and  cultural  purposes.  I  hope  fortune  will  smile  upon 
your  efforts  in  the  fields  of  practical  endeavor,  and  that  you 
may  meet  with  success  in  the  tasks  to  which  you  may  apply 
yourselves.  I  am  quite  sure  no  other  ninety-nine  young 
men  can  be  found  in  the  State  from  whom  it  has  a  right  to 
expect  more  than  from  you.  I  do  not  beheve  you  will 
disappoint  the  State.  I  am  quite  sure  there  is  some  man 
among  you  who  will  be  worth  more  in  a  material  way  to 
North  Carolina  than  the  entire  cost  of  running  this  institu- 
tion for  the  last  year  will  amount  to;  the  uplifting  influence 
which  your  class  will  radiate  in  the  State,  I  am  sure,  is 
above  all  material  calculations.  You  leave  here  and  take  up 
your  various  tasks  with  the  good  will  of  all  the  State.  I 
am  quite  sure  that  you  will  not  only  perform  your  private 
tasks  with  efficiency,  but  as  citizens  of  the  State,  your 
Influence  in  all  constructive  undertakings  will  be  com- 
manding and  helpful. 

We  are  trying  to  work  out  and  write  Into  the  life  of  this 
State  the  most  constructive  program  for  the  upbuilding 
of  our  people  and  the  strengthening  of  all  business  in  the 
State  ever  inaugurated  In  any  state.  I  hope  you  will 
Investigate  this  new  program,  and  give  to  it  the  strength 
of  your  young  manhood  and  the  Influence  which  I  am 
sure  will  soon  be  yours. 

We  must  make  this,  and  the  other  institutions  of  higher 
learning  in  our  State  adequate  to  discharge  their  full 
responsibility  to  the  State. 

We  must  make  our  system  of  common  schools  equal  to 
the  best  under  the  sun. 

We  are  trying,  and  must  succeed  in  making,  all  the 
institutions  for  our  defective  and  unfortunate  people 
adequate  to  their  demands. 


Public  Addp^esses  153 

We  must  protect  the  health  and  Hfe  of  our  people  by  a 
full  use  of  our  knowledge  of  preventive  medicine. 

We  must  push  agricultural  experiment  and  extension 
to  its  highest  perfection. 

We  must  build  a  system  of  dependable  highways  in 
North  Carolina  so  our  people  in  happ>  =;ocial  communion 
can  enjoy  the  wondrous  beauties  of  our  /lite. 

We  must  animate  and  push  the  old  b.ate  forward  in 
every  direction  in  which  an  enlightened  Christian  and 
true  patriot  wants  to  see  it  go. 


KNOW  YOURSELF  RELIGIOUSLY 
AND  POLITICALLY 

ADDRESS    TO    THE    GRADUATING    CLASS    OF    THE 
UNIVERSITY    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA 

JUNE   15,  1921 

Mt.  President  and  Members  of  the  Faculty,  Members  of  the 

Graduating  Class,  and  the  Student  Body: 

I  desire  to  congratulate  all  of  you  upon  the  successful 
close  of  another  scholastic  year.  My  information  is  that 
all  concerned  regard  the  year's  work  very  satisfactory. 
North  Carolina  is  to  be  congratulated  that  you  have 
graduated  such  a  large  class  of  young  men  and  women,  and 
contributed  them,  equipped  and  ready,  to  the  service  of  the 
State.  As  Governor  of  the  State,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure 
to  welcome  this  class  into  the  various  fields  of  the  State's 
active  endeavor.  It  is  not  my  pleasure  to  know  many  of 
you  personally,  but  my  information  is  that  the  faculty 
regards  this  class  as  fully  equal  to  any  which  this  historic 
institution  has  sent  forth  in  the  past  to  strengthen  and 
ennoble  the  State. 

The  schools  and  colleges,  public  and  private,  are  working 
quitely  but  with  powerful  effect  in  the  solution  of  the 
State's  greatest  problem;  that  is,  the  education  of  all  the 
people  of  the  State.     It  is  impossible  for  me  to  form   a 


154  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

vision  which  makes  North  Carohna  truly  great  without  a 
citizenship  educated  and  trained  to  grapple  with  the 
complex  business  and  governmental  questions  which  con- 
front us  in  the  future,  and  to  display  the  elegance  and 
beauty  of  the  refinements  of  social  culture.  This  noble 
institution  has  prepared  and  contributed  to  the  State  many 
of  those  who  have  helped  arouse  the  mighty  spirit  of 
progress  in  which  this  State  is  now  glorified.  As  Governor 
of  the  State,  I  thank  you  for  this  splendid  company  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-three  young  men  and  women  who 
have  taken  the  course  prescribed  here,  and  now  stand 
ready  to  take  the  part  of  men  and  women  in  the  problems 
and  opportunites  of  life. 

Young  ladies  and  gentlemen,  in  welcoming  you  into  the 
ranks  of  those  who  are  striving  as  grown  people  to  serve 
God  and  country,  I  urge  you  to  adopt  certain  principles  of 
reasoning  and  living,  which  I  will  suggest  as  almost  certain 
to  result,  if  followed,  in  happiness  to  you  and  in  benefit 
to  your  country. 

Accept  the  existing  order  of  things  as  a  result  of  past 
struggle  and  experience;  believe  that  which  exists  is  likely 
the  most  wise;  and  put  the  burden  upon  yourselves  and 
others  who  would  change  the  existing  order  of  things  to 
prove  the  wisdom  of  any  proposed  change.  But  remember 
that  although  the  presumption  is  in  favor  of  the  existing 
order  of  things,  nevertheless,  improvements  can  be  made, 
and  will  be  made,  but  they  never  will  be  made  by  those  who 
blindly  and  recklessly  presume  that  the  existing  order  is 
all  bad,  and  that  everything  must  be  changed;  but  improve- 
ments will  come  from  those  who,  conceding  the  burden  to 
be  upon  them  to  show  the  benefit  of  such  changes,  are, 
nevertheless,  able  to  assume  the  burden  and  to  show  the 
wisdom  of  changes,  of  which  the  consequent  result  is 
progress.  A  young  man  or  woman  who  starts  forth  on  the 
assumption  that  their  daddies  were  all  ignoramuses,  and 
that  everything  they  find  is  wrong,  will  accomplish  little 
in  life,  except  to  dazzle  the  thoughtless  with  the  brightness 
of  their  criticism;  but  one,  who  starts  forth  with  the  assump- 
tion that  most  things  have  been  as  well  done  as  time  and 


Public  Addresses  155 

environment  would  permit,  but  that  new  conditions  call 
for  new  methods,  and  in  moderation  and  respect  for  the 
past  seek  to  find  new  and  better  ways,  makes  the  first  step 
in  useful  citizenship. 

In  this  spirit  I  most  earnestly  advise  that  you  first  settle 
your  religious  beliefs.  If  you  have  not  already  done  so, 
you  ought  to  determine  what  is  the  truth  with  reference 
to  your  creation,  and  what  you  are  to  accept  as  the  religion 
of  your  life.  The  man  or  woman  who  has  no  religion  must 
of  necessity  be  of  an  uncertain,  halting  and  stumbling 
character.  Before  a  man  or  woman  can  be  adjusted 
to  this  life,  it  is  necessary  to  determine,  not  what  church 
to  join,  but  what  they  do  verily  believe  in  reference  to  a 
God  and  a  religion  by  which  they  are  willing  to  live  and 
die.  The  man  or  woman  who  goes  through  life  without 
settling  this  all-important  question  lives  very  closely  to 
the  life  of  an  animal.  Of  course,  I  think  that  consideration 
of  this  great  problem  will  result  in  accepting  the  religion 
of  the  Christian;  but  whatever  its  result,  no  intelligent 
human  being  can  escape  the  logic  of  the  proposition  that 
this  great  question  as  a  matter  of  ordinary,  common  sense 
ought  to  be  determined  at  the  very  threshold  of  rationality 
and  responsibility. 

When  you  have  determined  the  great  matter  of  your 
relation  to  a  Creator  and  the  religious  principles  by  which 
you  ought  to  live,  I  then  suggest  that  you  take  the  next 
step,  and  determine  your  attitude,  as  a  citizen,  to  your 
country.  Men  and  women  cannot  live  privately,  and  by 
religious  or  political  principles  made  for  themselves  alone, 
but  they  must  live  as  creatures  of  a  common  Creator,  and 
as  citizens  of  the  country  in  which  they  reside.  Every  man 
and  woman  ought  first  to  fix  their  religious  principles,  and 
then  their  political  principles.  What  is  going  to  be  your 
attitude  to  your  country.^  Do  you  understand  its  complex 
character  .f'  If  not,  it  is  your  duty  to  study  and  comprehend 
it.  I  believe  a  study  of  our  country  and  its  institutions 
will  make  you  a  devoted  American,  not  simply  because 
you  were  born  one,  but  because  it  is  the  strongest  and 
most    orderly    system    of   government,    and    at    the    same 


156  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

time,  the  most  liberal  one  under  which  men  and  women  have 
ever  lived.     You  will  find,   as  I   know  those  of  you  who 
have  thought  about  it  have  already  found,  that  we  have 
two  governments  in  one,  and  that  a  man  must  love  both  of 
them,   or  be  half  a   traitor  to  his   country.     The  United 
States  government,  even  as  interpreted  by  the  most  pro- 
nounced  Hamiltonian   who   ever   lived,    is   only   a   partial 
government,  and  without  the  beneficent  protection  of  the 
State  government  there  would  be  no  government  over  us 
worthy  the  name;  and  that  the  State  government,  without 
the   supplement   given   by   the   general   or   United    States 
government,  would  be  totally  unworthy  of  our  allegiance 
and  support  because  of  its  lack  of  power  to  protect  us  from 
foreign   aggression,   and  to  serve  us   in   many  other  vital 
respects.     The  United  States  government  was  set  up  to 
exercise  only  a  few  great  powers  or  functions  of  government. 
It  was  given  none  other.     The  other  powers  or  functions 
of  government  not  granted  to  the  United  States  govern- 
ment are  to  be  exercised  by  the  State,  or  not  at  all.     So 
it  takes  both  to  give  us  good  government,  and  the  powers 
granted   to  both   the  United   States  government  and   the 
State    government    are    subdivided    and    put    in    different 
departments,   and   so  checked   and  balanced   against  each 
other  as  to  constitute  the  most  wonderful  and  successful 
system  of  government  the  world   has   yet  discovered.     I 
urge  that  next  to  your  duty  to  your  God  comes  your  duty 
to  your  country,   and  that  in  order  to  understand  your 
country,  and  the  precious  principles  upon  which  it  rests, 
you  must  intelligently  study  it.     What  are  you  going  to 
do    about    your    country.''     Are    you    going    to    learn    the 
principles  upon  which  it  is  constructed.''     Are  you  going 
to    ascertain    the    different    contentions    and    conflicts    of 
parties  growing  out  of  it,   and  with  deep  seriousness,  fix 
your  own  principles  and  then  adhere  to  them.''     I  hope  so. 
Men    and    women    should    have    some    fixed    beliefs    with 
reference  to  political  principles  by  which,  as  citizens,  they 
are  to  be  guided. 

When    you    have    determined    your    religion    and    your 
politics,    I    think   you   will   have   approached   very   nearly 


Public  Addresses  157 

determining  your  character.  If  it  were  possible  to  ascertain 
what  a  man  truly  thought  with  reference  to  God  and  his 
country,  we  would  very  nearly  know  his  character  in  all 
relations  of  life,  because  a  true  lover  of  a  good  God  and  a 
great,  just  and  democratic  country  must  be  so  exalted  and 
glorified  that  the  good  will  dominate  over  the  bad  in  every 
conflict  of  life.  I  am  satisfied  that  a  man's  life,  or  a 
woman's,  when  guided  by  proper  religious  principles  and 
proper  principles  of  patriotism,  will  naturally  take  to  the 
virtues  of  private  life,  rather  than  to  its  vices.  When 
the  God  and  country  of  a  human  being  is  selected,  then 
it  follows,  as  the  night  the  day,  that  he  will  seek  such 
private  virtues  as  will  glorify  his  God  and  upbuild  his 
country. 

I  implore  you  to  study  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  the  principles  of  our  great  democratic,  or 
republican,  form  of  government.  True  devotion  to  these 
great  principles  will  cause  every  virtue  to  flower  in  your 
life.  Experience  has  demonstrated  that  respect  for  the 
virtues  and  standards  of  private  life  taught  in  the  revealed 
word  of  God,  from  whence  comes  the  entire  philosophy 
and  religion  of  the  Christian,  makes  for  human  happiness, 
and  that  practices  taught  by  this  code  to  be  vices  make 
for  human  misery  and  woe;  and  the  principles  of  govern- 
ment upon  which  our  country  rests,  and  which  are  found 
in  the  Constitution  of  our  State  and  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  furnish  a  government  under  which  human 
liberty,  civil  and  religious,  can  alone  be  orderly  enjoyed. 
I  do  not  believe  that  strength  can  be  found  in  any  other 
philosophy  save  the  religion  of  the  Christian  and  the 
patriotism  of  the  Democrat  or  the  Republican  to  success- 
fully contend  with  the  trials  of  life.  If  we  have  the  dignity 
and  the  strength  given  by  true  religion  and  true  patriotism, 
it  will  surely  give  us  the  intelligence  and  strength  to  meet 
the  difficulties  we  confront  in  business  and  in  the  trials  of 
private  life. 

I  beg  you  to  seek  knowledge  of  every  virtue  which  en- 
nobles the  philosophy  of  the  Christian,  and  when  found, 
to  embrace  it  and  cling  to  it  as  you  love  the  peace  of  your 


158  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

own  soul  and  the  betterment  of  humanity.  Also  seek 
knowledge  of  every  vice  as  taught  by  the  philosophy  of  the 
Christian,  and  shun  it  and  keep  it  from  your  life  as  you 
value  the  happiness  of  your  own  soul  and  as  you  dread  the 
demoralization   of   humanity. 

As  your  Governor,  I  proudly  invite  you  and  welcome 
you  into  the  ranks  of  the  men  and  women  who  are  seriously 
trying  to  make  North  Carolina  progress.  We  need  your 
help.  With  deep  reverence  for  the  great  past,  conceding 
everything  to  have  been  well  done,  difficulties  considered, 
by  those  who  have  gone  before,  we  are  nevertheless  trying 
to  make  those  conservative  improvements  which  the  best 
judgment  of  the  State  decrees.  With  conservatism,  yet 
with  determination  and  energy,  we  are  striving  to  protect 
the  health  of  our  people  with  the  modern  knowledge  of 
preventive  medicine;  and  in  our  greater  material  strength 
to  take  better  care  of  all  the  State's  unfortunate  and 
defective  people;  to  enlarge  and  strengthen  our  school 
system  in  order  that  all  the  children  of  the  State  may  be 
educated;  and  to  build  a  system  of  surface  roads  through 
our  State  upon  which  our  people  may  move  about  and  in 
happy  social  communion  know  and  love  each  other  better. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  BROTHERHOOD 
AND  HELPFULNESS 

AN   ADDRESS   TO   THE   FARMERs'    UNION    CONVENTION 

AT   RALEIGH 

AUGUST  16,  1921 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Farmers''  Union: 

The  honor  of  welcoming  you  to  the  Capitol  City  is  a 
very  great  pleasure.  I  am  quite  sure  I  voice  the  sentiments 
of  the  citizenship  of  this  city  when  I  tell  you  that  we  are 
glad  to  have  you  here,  collectively  and  individually,  and 
wish  you  every  possible  pleasure  during  the  session  of 
your  convention. 


Public  Addresses  159 

Interest  In  your  convention  and  its  deliberations  Is  not 
confined  to  the  city  of  Raleigh,  but  is  statewide.  The 
intelligence  of  all  North  Carolina  looks  with  interest  to  the 
outcome  of  your  deliberations,  and  earnestly  hopes  that 
you  may  initiate  something  which  will  contribute  to  the 
progress  and  prosperity  of  agriculture  In  this  State,  and  the 
happiness  of  the  farmers  of  North  Carolina. 

The  whole  State  is  proud  of  the  relative  position  to  which 
the  farmers  of  North  Carolina  have  pushed  the  State  in 
agriculture.  It  has  become  our  proudest  boast,  and  you 
can  quite  appropriately  reverse  the  old  order  of  thmgs, 
and  urge  the  other  class  groups  in  North  Carolina  to  wake 
up,  and  help  you  make  the  State  rich  and  strong. 

We  are  the  sixth  state  in  the  value  of  our  annual  crops; 
but  per  capita,  we  are  second,  and  per  acre  planted,  first. 
As  Governor  of  your  State,  I  congratulate  the  farmers  of 
North  Carolina  upon  this  great  record.  It  is  truly  a 
glorious  achievement,  and  yet,  I  confidently  expect  you  to 
carry  the  State  to  a  higher  comparative  position.  I  am 
not  going  to  tell  you  how  to  do  it,  but  I  am  going  to  throw 
all  the  influence  of  my  great  office  behind  your  Union,  and 
the  Agricultural  Department  of  the  State,  and  try  to  help 
the  farmers,  along  fines  blazed  by  them,  go  on  until  we  have 
the  most  intelligently  diversified,  compactly  organized, 
and  prosperous  agriculture  life  In  the  world. 

I  am  not  going  to  discuss  any  controversial  matter 
before  you  today.  It  Is  not,  In  my  opinion,  an  appropriate 
occasion  upon  which  to  discuss  matters  of  a  political  nature, 
certainly  those  about  which  there  Is  division.  It  has  long 
been  deemed  bad  taste  before  Rotary  Clubs,  Kiwanis 
Clubs,  commercial  bodies,  and  such  like,  to  discuss  con- 
troversial or  political  questions,  but  for  some  strange  reason, 
every  fellow  allowed  to  address  a  convention  of  farniers 
seems  to  think  he  can  make  himself  as  offensive  as  possible 
by  wading  into  the  most  delicate  questions  about  which 
the  people  are  divided.  I  think  It  Is  a  bad  custom  and 
ought  to  be  stopped,  and  that  upon  such  occasions^  you 
ought   to   be   treated    as   other   bodies   of   mixed   political 


160  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

complexion  are  treated,  and  such  subjects  as  may  be 
offensive  to  any  tabooed  in  your  conventions. 

But  I  desire  to  beg  you  for  your  deep  sympathy  and 
support  for  every  other  legitimate  industry  in  our  borders. 

North  Carolina  must  progress. 

We  cannot  do  so  on  your  industry  alone,  although  it  is 
first,  and  will  continue  to  be  first  in  importance.  We 
must  animate  commerce,  manufactures,  and  every  industry 
in  which  our  people  are  honorably  engaged  in  the  creation 
of  wealth  in  this  State.  We  must  enlarge  and  extend  every 
industry.  Nothing  could  go  further  to  enrich  and  strengthen 
the  other  industries  of  this  State  than  for  each  and  every 
one  of  them  to  know  that  they  have  the  good  will  and 
sympathy,  and  will  have  the  protection  of  the  farmers 
of  North  Carolina.  We  must  all  move  in  a  spirit  of  brother- 
hood and  helpfulness.  The  man  who  radiates  class  prej- 
udice and  hatred  in  this  State  must  be  squelched.  No 
industry  in  this  State  can  promote  its  own  welfare  by 
treading  down  any  other  industry.  The  interest  of  every 
industry  is,  in  every  reasonable  way,  to  make  other  indus- 
tries prosper. 

Let  us  all  work  together  in  mutual  regard,  and  with 
unyielding  determination  to  make  all  who  work  anywhere 
in  this  State  in  the  legitimate  creation  of  wealth  feel  that 
their  efforts  are  appreciated,  and  that  injustice  to  them 
from  any  source  will  not  be  tolerated  by  the  farmers  of 
North  Carolina. 


LAW  AND  ORDER  GUARANTEEING  LIBERTY 
MUST  BE  MAINTAINED 

AN  ADDRESS  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  CABARRUS  COUNTY 
AT  CONCORD 

AUGUST  19,  1921 

My  Fellow  Citizens: 

My  own  judgment  was  against  my  coming  here  and 
speaking  on  this  occasion;  but  Mr.  Barrett,  head  of  the 
Federation  of  Labor,  and  other  prominent  officials  of  organ- 


Public  Addresses  161 

ized  labor,  after  our  conference  in  Asheville  on  Wednesday, 
the  17th,  gave  me  most  positive  assurance  that  in  their 
opinion  my  views  of  the  situation  and  of  the  difficulties 
which  beset  all  concerned  here  would  be  of  great  benefit. 
I  frankly  confess  that  I  yielded  my  judgment  in  the  matter 
to  theirs  because  of  my  great  desire  for  them  to  know 
that  I  was  ready  and  anxious  to  do  any  proper  thing  to 
help  arrive  at  a  compromise  of  the  difficulties  so  distressing 
to  all  good  people  which  surround  this  community  and 
threaten  others  in  the  State. 

I  have  not  come  here  to  apologize  for  sending  State 
troops  here  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Mayor,  the  Chief  of 
Police,  and  upon  the  statement  of  the  Sheriff  that  he  and 
the  police  could  no  longer  control  the  situation.  If  I  erred, 
it  cannot  be  helped  now;  but  I  do  want  to  express  in  the  most 
emphatic  language  I  can  command  that  these  soldiers  were 
sent  here  simply  to  uphold  the  law,  and  preserve  peace, 
and  that  if  they,  or  any  one  of  them,  take  sides  in  any 
improper  manner,  I  will  use  my  influence  as  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  troops  to  bring  them  to  militar}^  trial  for 
such  misconduct. 

I  want  to  take  them  away  from  here  at  the  very  earliest 
moment  that  orderly  conditions  can  be  established,  and 
that  I  can  get  the  reasonable  assurance  of  the  local  officers 
that  they  can  control  the  situation,  protect  liberty,  and 
preserve  peace. 

As  patriotic  North  Carolinians  and  loyal  citizens  of  our 
country,  let  us  calmly  and  with  charity  for  all,  even  those 
who  err,  consider  the  principles  involved,  and  see  if  we  can 
arrive  at  a  basis  and  agree  upon  principles  which  ought 
to  control  every  good  man  and  woman  interested  in  this 
situation. 

What  is  the  duty  of  the  government  in  respect  to  indus- 
trial controversies  such  as  yours.'*  After  deep  reflection, 
I  declare  to  you  that  it  is  my  honest  judgment  that  if  this 
really  is  a  land  of  orderly  liberty,  then  the  government  has 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  it,  except  to  preserve  the  peace 
and  let  the  contending  parties  in  an  orderly  way  exercise 


162  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

their  liberty  and  determine  for  themselves  the  questions 
involved. 

It  is  the  highest  duty  of  any  orderly  government  to 
protect  the  liberty  of  its  citizens  and  preserve  order,  so 
that  its  citizens  can  make  their  contracts  and  transact  their 
business  about  labor  or  any  other  matter  free  from  intim- 
idation and  fear.  I  do  not  believe  that  the  executive 
branch  of  the  government,  or  the  judicial,  has  anything 
whatsoever  to  do  with  the  settlement  of  a  situation  such 
as  yours,  except  to  uphold  the  law,  as  it  has  already  been 
made  by  the  legislative  branch  of  the  government.  Let 
us  examine  the  principles  involved  fearlessly  and  honestly 
seek  a  sound  basis  from  which  to  act. 

I  do  not  deem  it  wise  or  proper  for  the  government  of 
North  Carolina  to  interpose  and  interfere  with  the  making 
of  a  contract  between  citizens  of  this  State. 

The  freedom  of  contract  involves  the  very  foundation 
of  free  government.  For  the  government  of  North  Carolina 
to  endeavor  to  force  men  to  make  a  contract  in  this  State 
against  their  will  is,  in  my  judgment,  a  very  improper 
thing  to  do. 

Labor  in  North  Carolina  has  a  legal  right  to  organize 
and  to  collectively  bargain  when  organized,  provided, 
however,  that  they  can  get  somebody  willing  to  bargain 
with  them.  Their  right  to  collectively  bargain  cannot 
be  taken  away  from  them  under  the  constitutional  securities 
of  liberty,  which  are  the  very  life  of  our  Republic.  No 
man  has  any  right  to  call  labor  to  the  bar  of  public  senti- 
ment and  lecture  it  for  seeing  fit  to  exercise  its  undoubted 
right  to  organize,  and  endeavor  when  organized  to  bargain 
for  all  concerned.  I  declare  to  all  North  Carolinians  that 
it  is  wrong  to  undertake  to  create  prejudice  against  and 
excite  enmity  of  the  laboring  people  in  North  Carolina, 
because  they  see  fit  to  exercise  their  liberty  for  their  interest 
in  their  own  way.  So  far  as  I  am  informed,  organized  labor 
does  not  contend  for  any  principles  or  legal  right  of  import- 
ance of  which  I  have  not  been,  and  am  now,  as  a  citizen, 
a  champion.  As  to  how  they  shall  exercise  their  liberty, 
and  whether  they  always  exercise  It  wisely  or  not,  is  no 


Public  Addresses  163 

man's  business,  and  the  lecturing  and  abuse  of  them  which 
emanates  from  some  quarters  should  be  stopped. 

On  the  other  hand,  employers  with  whom  they  want  to 
contract  have  the  right  to  contract  with  them  or  not 
contract  with  them,  as  they  see  fit,  and  deem  it  to  their 
interest.  This  would  no  longer  be  a  free  country  if  citizens 
were  forced  to  contract  with  any  individual  or  group  of 
individuals  with  whom  they  did  not  want  to  contract. 
There  is  no  law  under  which  the  Governor  or  any  other 
official  can  make  them  contract.  None  could  be  enacted 
under  our  Constitution.  Dearer  than  our  entire  industrial 
fabric  and  all  the  wealth  we  have  accumulated  is  the 
principle  of  liberty  involved  in  the  right,  duly  regulated 
by  law,  to  freely  contract  and  be  contracted  with  about  any 
lawful  and  moral  matter,  properly  the  subject  of  a  contract. 
It  is  true  that  we  are  our  "brother's  keeper,"  but  I  think 
the  time  has  arrived  when  we  had  better  recognize  more 
of  our  brother's  liberty,  and  permit  him  to  attend  to  his 
own  business.  No  man  owes  anybody  an  apology  in  this 
country  for  entering  into,  or  refraining  from  entering  into 
any  business  contract,  or  refusing  to  enter  into  a  business 
contract,  which  he  m.ay  see  fit  to  refuse  to  enter  into. 

There  is  a  wide  opinion  that  public  sentiment  must 
jerk  up  every  large  employer  of  labor  and  by  abuse  and 
vilification  bring  him  into  contempt  when  he  exercises  his 
undoubted  privilege  to  refuse  to  enter  into  a  contract  which 
he  does  not  want  to  enter  into  with  his  employees.  It  is 
his  own  business,  and  no  man  has  any  right,  even  those 
who  want  to  make  the  contract  which  the  employer  In  the 
exercise  of  his  undoubted  liberty  will  not  make,  to  become 
angry  with  him,  and  abuse  him  and  hate  him.  We  are 
coming  upon  serious  times  in  this  Republic,  and  we  had 
better  recur  to  the  primary  principles  of  liberty,  and 
recognize  the  freedom  of  contract,  and  respect  it.  If  the 
mill  employers  of  this  city  and  county  will  not  enter  Into 
contracts  with  union  labor,  or  with  the  individual  laborers 
concerned,  which  labor  wants  them  to  enter  into,  it  is 
absolutely  nobody's  business  but  their  own. 


164  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

If  the  foregoing  statement  of  principles  is  not  correct, 
then  freedom  of  contract  is  destroyed  in  this  Republic,  and 
we  are  no  longer  free,  but,  under  an  absurd  interpretation 
of  the  principle  that  we  are  our  brother's  keeper,  we  have 
reached  the  place  that  no  man  can  attend  to  his  own 
business,  but  must  transact  it  as  liberty  despising  public 
sentiment,  fostered  by  ignorant  leaders,  requires  him  to 
do.  Let  us,  before  it  is  everlastingly  too  late,  recognize 
the  liberty  of  each  citizen,  or  group  of  citizens,  as  long  as 
they  will  act  orderly,  and  respect  the  peace,  to  transact  their 
business  according  to  their  own  sweet  will. 

Without  any  law  to  justify  me,  if  I  should  interpose  in  a 
controversy  over  a  contract  of  employment  in  this  State, 
the  stage  would  finally  be  reached  when  I  thought  one  side 
or  the  other  willing  to  do  the  right  thing,  and  then  such 
influence  as  my  high  office  has  would  be  thrown  against  the 
side  I  disagreed  with.  This  would  result  in  an  effort  to  do 
by  moral  ofiicial  force  that  which  every  intelligent  citizen 
will  readily  admit  cannot  be  done  by  force  of  law,  and 
which  would  result  in  an  end  of  free  government  if  it  could 
be  done  by  law,  I  am  unwilling  to  throw  the  influence  of 
my  office  against  any  citizen  or  group  of  citizens  to  force 
him  or  them  to  enter  into  any  contract  which  they  may  not 
desire  to  enter  into,  however  foolish  or  unwise  his  course 
may  be. 

I  would  be  most  happy  to  see  a  freely  arrived  at  adjust- 
ment between  the  conflicting  industrial  forces  of  Cabarrus 
County,  or  elsewhere,  but  I  am  satisfied  that  settlement 
arrived  at  through  coercion,  governmental  or  otherwise, 
other  than  purely  economic,  would  not  bring  permanent 
understanding.  We  must  go  to  basic  principles  about  these 
controversies,  and  recognize  the  absolute  freedom  of 
individuals,  or  groups  of  individuals,  in  this  State  to 
contract  and  be  contracted  with,  without  coercion  by 
influential  public  officials,  or  by  intimidating  coercive 
assemblies   engaging   in   insult   and   intimidation. 

I  believe  in  recognizing  every  legal  right  of  organized 
labor;  but  I  also  believe  in  recognizing  every  legal  right 
of  employers  of  labor,  and  every  legal  right  of  unorganized 
labor. 


Public  Addresses  165 

Furthermore,  if  I  should  inject  myself  into  this  con- 
troversy, and  endeavor  to  adjust  it,  I  fear  I  would  no 
longer  have  the  confidence  of  the  side  I  had  come  to  a 
judgment  against,  in  my  efforts  to  uphold  the  law  which  a 
continued  conflict  might  necessitate. 

In  respect  to  the  disorder  which  had  assumed  threatening 
proportions  in  Cabarrus  County,  I  think  it  arose  largely 
from  the  fact  that  the  local  police  officers  did  not  clearly 
comprehend  their  duty,  more  than  from  any  unwillingness 
to  discharge  it.  There  has  been  much  confusion  in  the 
public  mind  as  to  what  would  constitute  illegal  practices 
in  a  tense  situation  produced  between  striking  laborers 
and  those  about  to  take  their  place.  I  announced  in  my 
letter  to  Sheriff  Cochrane  of  Mecklenburg,  some  time  ago 
(by  the  way,  the  widely  published  statement  that  Sheriff 
Cochrane  called  for  troops  was  untrue;  he  merely  asked  me 
for  instructions),  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  local  police 
authorities  to  use  all  the  necessary  power  to  keep  order 
and  suppress  intimidation  and  interference  of  anybody's 
rights,  but  that  I  would  unhesitatingly  send  troops  any- 
where they  were  needed,  whatever  cause  produced  the 
trouble. 

Of  course,  I  recognize  that  there  will  be  criticism  of  my 
action  in  sending  troops  to  Cabarrus  County,  but  I  thought 
it  to  be  my  duty,  and  I  declare  now  that  during  my  term 
of  office  as  Governor,  liberty,  law,  and  order  shall  not  be 
stifled  in  any  community  in  this  State;  no  citizen  who  wants 
to  work  shall  be  intimidated  and  prevented  from  doing  so 
through  fear  of  any  influence,  however  powerful. 

If  all  officials,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  and  the 
public,  will  recognize  that  liberty  to  contract  and  be  con- 
tracted with,  or  not  to  contract  and  be  contracted  with, 
is  more  priceless  than  any  other  principle  of  liberty,  except 
that  of  life  and  personal  security,  and  that  this  liberty  must 
be  orderly  enjoyed,  and  under  this  principle  let  conflicting 
parties  to  these  industrial  disputes  settle  their  own  diffi- 
culties as  other  people  have  to  do,  we  will  have  arrived  at  a 
basis  which  will  clear  up  the  whole  situation. 


166  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

If  public  sentiment,  high  State  officials  and  the  press 
were  to  undertake  to  dictate  to  the  farmers  of  North 
Carolina,  and  those  who  work  for  them,  the  merchants  and 
other  business  people  in  the  State  employing  small  numbers 
of  laborers,  how,  and  when,  and  at  what  price,  they  should 
make  their  contracts,  it  would  become  laughable,  and 
would  not  be  tolerated  by  the  freemen  of  this  State  for  one 
moment.  The  underlying  principles  are  the  same.  A 
controversy  between  a  great  manufacturing  plant  and 
fifteen  hundred  employees  is  of  no  more  sacred  importance, 
and  should  be  dealt  with  upon  the  same  principle  as  a 
controversy  between  a  merchant  and  his  two  clerks,  or  a 
farmer  and  his  two  plow  hands. 

As  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  I  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  contracts  made  between  the  people  of  this  State 
about  matters  subject  to  contract,  and  which  are  not  illegal 
or  immoral  in  their  nature,  other  than  when  conditions 
arise  which  threaten  the  peace  and  order  of  the  community 
in  which  they  are  being  made,  and  it  then  becomes  my  duty 
to  uphold  the  law. 

Hundreds  of  men  and  women  in  Cabarrus  County  wanted 
to  go  to  work.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  whether  they 
ought  to  have  gone  or  not.  They  had  a  legal  right  to  work, 
and  a  government  which  would  not  protect  them  from 
jeering,  insulting  and  intimidating  crowds  numbering 
hundreds,  would  be  unworthy  of  the  loyalty  of  patriotic 
men. 

Troops  under  my  command  will  not  in  this  emergency, 
or  any  other,  violate  the  hberty  of  any  citizen  of  this 
State,  or  interfere,  further  than  the  preservation  of  peace 
may  require,  with  the  orderly  movement  of  its  citizens;  but 
as  I  understand  my  duty,  I  propose  to  see  that  peace  and 
order  prevail  in  every  community  of  this  State.  The 
troops  under  my  command  will  not  overawe  and  intimidate 
any  human  being  in  North  Carolina,  save  one  who  stands 
for  the  standard  of  insurrection  and  enmity  to  orderly 
government.  To  the  insurrectionist  or  champion  of  mob 
government,  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  so  far  as  I  control 
its  official  action,  has  nothing  to  offer  save  its  righteous 


Public  Addresses  167 

condemnation,  and  the  assertion  that  to  the  full  power 
entrusted  in  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  military  forces 
of  this  State,  they  will  be  suppressed,  and  made  to  live  in 
order,  and  respect  the  liberty  of  the  humblest  laborer,  as 
well  as  the  largest  property  owner  within  the  State's  borders. 

I  think  I  fully  understand  the  legally  established  rights 
of  laborers  on  strike,  and  of  those  who  may  desire  to  take 
their  place.  I  set  them  forth  in  the  proclamation  which 
I  issued  a  few  days  ago  to  the  people  of  Cabarrus  County. 
I  do  not  know  who  was  to  blame  for  the  condition  of 
threatened  lawlessness  here  which  caused  the  Mayor,  the 
Chief  of  Police,  and  many  good  citizens  to  call  upon  me  as 
Governor  of  the  State  to  send  troops  here  to  preserve  the 
peace  and  protect  life.  I  pass  no  judgment.  The  immediate 
provocations  may  have  come  either  from  the  ingoing  laborers 
or  from  those  on  strike,  or  not  from  either,  but  from  meddle- 
some sympathizers;  but,  however  this  may  have  been, 
my  sole  desire  was  to  preserve  the  peace,  protect  human 
life,  and  allow  a  peaceful  struggle  under  the  law  between  the 
conflicting  forces  here. 

No  law-abiding  citizen  should  look  with  awe  and  dread 
upon  the  heroic  men  who  wear  our  country's  uniform.  I 
suspect  the  lawful  intention  of  any  citizen  of  this  land  of 
law  and  order  who  hates  the  sight  of  the  men  who  wear  the 
uniform  of  our  country's  military  forces,  and  who,  in  the 
hour  of  peril  to  our  liberties  and  all  we  hold  dear,  will  take 
the  lead  in  standing  forth  to  preserve  for  us  and  our  children 
the  principles  of  liberty  upon  which  the  country  rests. 
Some  of  the  men  who  are  trying  to  bring  into  derision  and 
contempt  the  military  forces  of  this  State  ought  to  remem- 
ber that  most  of  them  are  men  who  stepped  under  the 
country's  flag  with  a  courage  worthy  of  the  heroes  who 
established  this  country,  and  met  on  Europe's  bloody 
battle  fields  the  hosts  of  the  Hun,  and  through  sacrifice 
and  suffering  kept  every  flag  symbolizing  liberty  on  earth 
from  being  torn  down  and  tramped  under  foot  by  the 
autocrat. 

The  troops  here  are  under  the  command  of  General 
J.  Van  B.  Metts,  who  commanded  the  One  Hundred  and 


168  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Nineteenth  Infantry  Regiment  of  the  Thirtieth  Division 
in  the  Hindenburg  Hne  fight,  and  side  by  side  with  the 
Tenth  Infantry  Regiment,  commanded  by  another  North 
Carohna  colonel,  carried  the  standard  of  law  and  order 
and  liberty  through  the  Hindenburg  Hne,  and  finished  the 
downfall  of  the  liberty-hating  Hohenzollern  and  Hapsburg 
dynasties.  He  loves  liberty  and  peace,  and  has  made 
proof  of  it  as  daring  as  any  patriot  who  ever  faced  shot 
and  shell  and  fire  and  death  for  free  government.  No  man 
except  the  enemy  of  order  and  liberty  and  peace  need 
fear  any  body  of  men  under  the  command  of  Metts  and  the 
heroic  captains  who  command  the  three  companies  in  this 
county. 

But  I  want  to  move  them  away  from  here,  and  I  appeal 
to  all  men  in  this  county,  whether  you  are  standing  under 
the  standard  of  union  labor  and  doing  what  you  can  to  aid 
the  striking  laborers,  or  on  the  other  side.  Whoever  you 
are,  and  wherever  your  sympathies  may  be,  I  appeal  to 
you  as  a  citizen  of  North  Carolina  to  give  your  influence 
quickly  and  without  delay  to  the  sheriff  and  the  police 
officers,  and  establish  by  common  concord  of  all  good  men 
in  this  county  a  respect  for  order,  liberty  and  peaceful 
argument  which  will  justify  me  in  moving  the  troops  here 
from  your  county.  They  neither  want  to  stay,  nor  do  I 
want  them  to  stay.  They  are  here  at  immense  sacrifice 
to  themselves  and  only  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  each 
side  to  this  controversy  to  enjoy  all  the  liberty  guaranteed 
its  followers  by  the  law  of  the  land.  It  is  along  these 
lines,  and  upon  these  principles,  that  we  can  continue  to 
enjoy  liberty  in  this  State  and  country. 

Finally,  I  want  to  appeal  to  all  conflicting  classes  to  sub- 
merge and  forget  their  class  consciousness  and  class  interest 
in  an  unselfish  devotion  to  the  precious  principles  of  our 
government.  This  country  ought  not  to  be  governed, 
and  must  not  be  governed,  by  direct  group  government, 
nor  by  the  overpowerful  and  rich,  nor  by  any  class,  but 
it  must  be  governed  by  men  who,  above  material  things 
and  above  any  class,  stand  together  upon  the  great  basic 
principles  of  human  freedom. 


Public  Addresses  169 

I  beg,  in  conclusion,  that  the  Christians  and  patriots 
in  this  community  quickly  come  together  as  brothers 
and  establish  law  and  order  and  quiet  in  your  community, 
and  if  this  industrial  conflict  cannot  be  settled,  which  I 
devoutly  hope  the  parties  to  it  can  do,  then  let  it  proceed 
until  one  side  or  the  other  has  whipped  in  a  peaceful 
economic  contest. 


SAVE  FOR  HUMANITY  THE  FABRIC  OF 

GOVERNMENT  FOUNDED  UPON  THE 

COMPETITIVE  SYSTEM 

A    SPEECH    BEFORE    THE    ANNUAL    MEETING    OF    THE 

AMERICAN    LEGION,    AT    HENDERSONVILLE 

AUGUST  18,  1921 

I  will  not  attempt,  with  my  feeble  capacity  for  panegyric, 
any  eulogy  of  the  soldiers  of  the  World  War.  The  judg- 
ment of  mankind  and  the  deep  gratitude  of  humanity  for 
your  sacrifices,  daring  and  accomplishments  may  some  day 
be  adequately  expressed  by  some  divine  poet  or  some 
Gibbon,  Hume  or  Macaulay  of  history.  The  ordinary 
public  man  only  makes  himself  ridiculous  in  an  effort  to 
eulogize  the  soldiers  of  the  World  War. 

I  can  only  lay  at  your  feet  the  simple  tribute  of  a  grateful 
heart  for  all  you  have  done  to  keep  the  standards  of  liberty 
in  the  sky,  and  let  this  world  continue  to  be  fit  for  free 
people  to  live  in. 

I  am  satisfied  that  you  have  contributed  more  to  the 
cause  of  freedom  and  orderly  government  than  any  men 
who  come  after  you,  will  ever  have  an  opportunity  to  do. 
I  think  your  victory  over  autocracy  was  a  final  one,  and 
that  democratic  government  will  live  forever  by  reason  of 
the  great  victory  to  which  you  contributed  so  gloriously. 

There  are  many  phases  of  the  struggle  that  all  reflective 
minds  must  dwell  upon;  but  I  want  only  to  say  to  you  in 
the  few  minutes  I  shall  trespass  upon  your  courtesy  and 
kindness  that  I  verily  believe  one  of  the  greatest  compen- 


170  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

sations  for  the  sacrifice  of  blood,  health  and  treasure  made 
is  the  American  Legion.     For  many  years  I  have  viewed 
with  alarm  the  growing  sentiment  that  our  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
were  obsolete,  and  that  only  the  Reactionary  and  old  fogy 
steadfastly  believed  in  their  principles.    Socialism,  Soviet- 
ism,  and  every  form  of  wild-cat  thought  moving  in  the  earth 
has    been   finding   followers    in    this    great   free   Republic. 
Political  parties  devoted  to  the  principles  of  Americanism 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  have  been  losing  influence,  and 
command  less  and  less  of  the  loyalty  and  support  of  the 
American    people.     It    is    true    that    good    citizens    were 
organizing   into   class   groups   for   business   purposes,    and 
clashing   with   each   other  for   class   supremacy   and   class 
legislation,  but  there  has  been  no  sufficiently  vigorous  and 
commanding  organization  fearlessly  standing  forth  to  do 
battle  with  Extremists,  Radicals,  Socialists  and  Bolsheviki 
of  various  descriptions  v/ho  were  assailing  the  principles  of 
the  great  Declaration  of  Independence  and  of  our  Consti- 
tution.    I  am  truly  glad  that  the  men  who  stepped  under  the 
country's   flag    and    carried    it   to   final   victory   over   the 
standards   of  autocracy   and   absolutism   have   seen   fit  to 
organize  the  men  who  saved  liberty  on  earth  into  a  great 
legion  under  a  constitution  the  principal  purpose  of  which 
is  to  save  and  keep  alive  in  the  hearts  of  our  people  the 
principles  of  Americanism,  as  expressed  in  our  Declaration 
of  Independence  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
I  earnestly  Implore  every  young  man  in  North  Carolina 
who  stood  under  the  flag  in  the  hour  of  trial  to  join  the 
American  Legion,  and  with  its  constitution  wrapped  about 
him,    help   fight   back   the   rising   tides   of   Socialism    and 
Sovietism,  and  save  for  humanity  this  great  free  fabric  of 
government  founded  upon  the  competitive  system,  and  the 
individual  liberty  of  the  citizens. 

The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  the  Northern 
section  of  our  country  and  the  United  Soldiers  of  the 
Armies  of  the  Confederacy  from  the  Civil  War  until  the 
World  War  were  the  most  powerful  influences  for  good 
government   in    the   Union.     Each    had    the   weakness   of 


Public  Addresses  171 

sectionalism,  although  they  were  patriots  as  loyal  and 
true  as  ever  walked  the  earth.  Your  great  organization 
will  have  the  strength  of  both  without  the  weakness  of 
either.  Our  country  should  not  be  governed  by  men  who 
come  together  in  class  groups  and  struggle  for  class  selfish- 
ness; nor  by  ignorant  demagogues  who  hold  the  basic 
principles  of  our  government  in  contempt,  but  by  patriots 
who  come  together  from  every  class  and  calling  in  common 
devotion  to  the  principles  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence and  the  Constitution  of  our  country. 

The  questions  which  divide  the  great  political  parties 
of  our  country  are  important,  but  they  are  not  vital,  and 
we  all  should  remember  that  we  differ  about  questions  of 
policy  only,  but  that  every  true  American  lives  in  devotion 
to  the  principles  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and 
the  Constitution  of  his  country,  the  first  real  chart  of 
orderly  liberty  the  world  ever  knew.  We  must  know  our 
complex  system  of  government,  and  learn  that  it  takes 
both  the  United  States  government  and  the  State  govern- 
ment to  give  us  full  and  complete  government;  that  a  man 
can  be  a  traitor  to  this  country  if  he  loves  only  the  State  or 
Nation  and  despises  the  other;  that  neither  is  a  full  govern- 
ment, but  that  it  takes  both  to  give  the  citizen  a  govern- 
ment worthy  of  his  loyalty  and  love. 

I  am  deeply  thankful  for  your  organization,  and  I  want 
you  to  knov^  that  I  see  more  hope  in  the  defense  which  you 
are  making  for  the  basic  principles  of  our  government  than 
I  see  in  any  other  organization  in  this  Republic. 

I  hope  you  will  be  militant  and  aggressive,  and  never 
lower  the  standards,  and  compromise  with  the  forces  of 
confusion,  disorder  and  contempt  for  respresentative  demo- 
cratic or  republican  government,  so  wisely  provided  for  in 
the  Constitution  of  our  country. 


172  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


PROGRESS  NEEDED  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 

SPEECH    DELIVERED    AT    CULLOWHEE,    N.    C. 
MAY  8,  1922 

North  Carolina  must  continue  to  progress.  We  must 
not  only  progress,  but  we  must  do  so  at  an  ever-increasing 
rate  of  speed.  Difficulties  overcome  being  taken  into 
account,  our  progress  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  makes  a 
splendid  story;  and  yet  our  natural  resources  considered, 
North  Carolina  ought  to  be  ashamed  that  we  are  not  a 
richer  and  more  efficient  people  than  we  are.  Our  natural 
resources  and  advantages  compare  most  favorably  with 
any  state  of  like  area  in  all  the  world,  and  if  we  had,  even 
fifty  years  ago,  commenced  to  educate  all  the  people  of  the 
State  and  to  make  them  efficient  in  industry,  we  could 
easily  have  been  many  times  stronger  and  richer  than 
we  are. 

The  curse  of  North  Carolina  through  the  ages  has  been 
its  unwillingness  to  spend  money  in  necessary  development 
of  the  natural  resources  of  the  State,  and  in  training  and 
making  efficient  the  great  mass  of  the  people.  For  many 
decades  we  were  "Hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water" 
for  the  better  trained  and  more  efficient  sections  of  our 
own  country  and  of  the  world. 

We  have  in  the  recent  past  made  notable  progress,  past 
history  considered,  but  we  are  far  from  performing  now  the 
proper  functions  and  duties  of  a  great  modern  state.  The 
true  way  to  reduce  taxation  is  to  educate,  not  only  cul- 
turally, but  technically,  the  youth  of  the  State  and  make 
them  more  efficient  in  industry  and  varied  in  capacity  to 
create  wealth,  in  order  that  there  will  be  more  wealth 
created  to  bear  the  burden;  to  take  care  of  our  defective 
and  unfortunate  in  order  that  there  will  be  fewer  defectives 
and  unfortunates  to  take  care  of;  to  guard  through  govern- 
mental agencies  the  health  of  the  people  of  the  State;  to 
enforce  the  law  and  in  every  proper  way  discountenance 
vice   and  prevent  crime.     We   must   have   a   modern   and 


Public  Addresses  173 

up-to-date  government,  not  only  doing  the  old-fashioned^ 
primary  things  that  governments  did,  but  one  which 
realizes  that  the  beneficence  of  government  is  as  truly 
expressed  through  the  schoolhouse  as  the  courthouse,  and 
which  has  intelligence  enough  to  regard  the  Sanitary  and 
Health  Officer  and  the  Farm  Demonstrator  as  of  equal 
dignity  and  importance  with  the  sheriff  and  policeman. 
A  modern  government  organized  to  do  something  for  the 
people  more  than  to  prevent  them  from  robbing  and 
killing  each  other  will  require  a  greater  investment  than 
the  old  government  performing  only  the  duties  of  the 
judge,  the  sheriff  and  the  coroner,  and  an  intelligent 
citizen  understands  that  the  taxes  paid  for  such  a  govern- 
ment is  the  best  investment  he  makes,  and  will  return  a 
greater  yield,  if  not  for  himself,  certainly  for  his  children, 
than  any  he  can  make  individually  for  them. 

I  am  ashamed  to  say  that  North  Carolina  is  more  econom- 
ical in  the  payment  of  taxes  and  the  things  we  do  collectively 
than  we  are  in  the  things  we  do  as  individuals.  If  we 
practiced  a  small  part  of  the  economy  in  our  individual 
and  private  lives  that  we  demand  in  the  State's  affairs,  we 
could  pay  our  taxes  and  yet  soon  possess  very  great  accu- 
mulations. We  can  never  get  ready  to  make  true  progress 
until  we  cease  to  think  of  taxation  in  the  old  way  as  a 
mere  contribution  to  a  few  officers  who  did  little  else  than 
keep  order  and  protect  us  from  robbery  and  other  crimes. 
We  must  realize  that  taxation  in  the  town,  county  and 
state  largely  goes  to  the  education  of  our  children,  the 
protection  of  our  health,  the  building  of  our  roads,  the 
improvement  of  agriculture  and  other  business,  and  the 
doing  of  things  without  which  we  cannot  be  a  strong 
and  successful  people,  and  which  we  cannot  do  for  ourselves 
individually,  but  which  must  be  done  by  collective  action 
through  the  State  and  its  subdivisions. 

Ninety-seven  cents  of  every  dollar  paid  into  the  Treasury 
of  North  CaroUna  goes  to  some  great  governmental  purpose, 
and  only  three  cents  of  it  goes  to  the  cost  of  administration. 
No  private  business  in  the  world  is  run  upon  such  a  small 
overhead  cost,  and  no  other  State  government  in  the  Union 


174  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

is  conducted  at  such  a  small  overhead  or  administration 
expense.  We  must  learn  that  when  we  rage  about  taxes 
in  the  State  we  are  setting  ourselves  against  expending 
money  for  the  culture  and  efficient  training  of  our  youth, 
the  protection  of  the  health  of  our  people,  the  building  of 
roads,  the  care  of  our  insane,  feeble-minded  children,  the 
deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  and  other  defectives.  The  most 
effective  enemy  through  all  the  years  North  Carolina 
has  had  is  the  man  who  has  stood  out  with  no  greater 
conception  of  statesmanship  and  the  duty  of  democratic 
government  than  to  fight  against  any  public  debt  for 
permanent  improvements  and  the  development  and  con- 
servation of  our  resources  and  against  all  propositions  to 
increase  through  taxation  the  technical  training,  general 
culture  and  efficiency  of  our  youth. 

When  I  was  inaugurated  Governor  of  North  Carolina 
the  State  owed  about  eleven  millions  of  dollars,  with  an 
interest  charge  from  it  of  about  3460,000  a  year.  It  owned 
the  controlling  interest  in  the  North  Carolina  Railroad, 
running  from  Charlotte  to  Goldsboro,  and  the  controlling 
interest  in  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad, 
running  from  Goldsboro  to  Beaufort,  which  are  worth,  in 
my  judgment,  at  least  as  much  as  the  entire  debt.  About 
one-half  of  the  debt  had  been  contracted  in  the  construction 
of  these  two  roads.  We  received  annual  rent  from  the 
lease  of  these  two  roads  of  a  little  more  than  one-half  the 
entire  interest  charges  on  the  State  at  the  time  of  my 
inauguration. 

We  were  very  proud  of  this  small  debt,  and  yet  we  had 
fifteen  hundred  crazy  people  in  North  Carolina  in  the 
jails,  poorhouses,  cribs,  and  homes  of  the  people  of  the  State 
because  there  was  not  adequate  room  at  the  asylums  of 
the  State  to  take  them  in  and  perform  a  Christian  civiliza- 
tion's duty  towards  them.  We  had  thousands  of  little 
children  who  were  feeble-minded,  many  of  them  susceptible 
of  being  restored  to  strength,  that  we  could  not  take  to 
Kinston  to  the  institution  for  the  feeble-minded  children, 
and  mend  and  care  for  the  poor  little  wrecks.  We  had 
hundreds  of  deaf,  dumb  and  blind  in  the  State  that  our 


Public  Addresses  175 

institutions  were  inadequate  to  care  for.  Our  great 
institution  for  tubercular  people  was  totally  inadequate. 
Our  institution  for  the  morally  delinquent  girls  at  Samar- 
cand  and  the  morally  delinquent  boys  at  the  Stonewall 
Jackson  Training  School  were  inadequate  to  take  hundreds 
who  appealed  to  a  Christian  civilization  by  their  helpless- 
ness and  defectiveness  for  protection  and  training.  Our 
institution  for  higher  learning  at  the  University,  the  State 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering,  the  Woman's 
State  College  at  Greensboro,  the  Teachers  Training  School, 
your  school,  and  the  other  normal  schools  of  the  State  were 
totally  inadequate  to  take  many  thousands  that  appealed 
to  us  for  training  in  order  that  they  might  be  more  efficient 
to  bear  the  burdens  of  a  democracy  and  make  the  State 
richer  and  better. 

The  enlargement  of  these  institutions  could  not  be  made 
from  current  taxation;  they  could  not  wait  until  some  wild 
Russian-minded  dreamer  succeeded  in  getting  the  govern- 
ment to  issue  fiat  money  instead  of  bonds.  Our  low 
bonded  indebtedness,  with  these  duties  pounding  upon  the 
Christian  heart  of  North  Carolina,  was  a  disgrace.  We 
Issued  ^6,700,000  to  discharge  these  duties  to  God  and 
humanity.  The  annual  interest  charge  Incurred  will  aggre- 
gate about  3300,000  a  year,  not  over  this  amount,  if  so  much. 
Less  than  one-half  of  the  one-tenth  of  one  per  cent  franchise 
tax  annually  collected  will  pay  it;  one-third  of  the  tax  paid 
by  the  Insurance  companies  doing  business  in  the  State 
upon  their  Insurance  premiums  will  pay  It;  one-third  of  the 
annual  inheritance  tax  paid  In  the  State  will  pay  It.  The 
burden  placed  upon  us  by  the  bond  Issue  and  the  small 
annual  interest  charge  will  be  light,  but  the  burden  of  the 
wails  of  the  mad,  the  tears  of  the  broken  and  defective 
children,  the  boys  and  girls  being  brought  up,  without 
training  and  opportunity,  doomed  to  hew  wood  and  draw 
water  for  the  more  enlightened  countries  would  have  con- 
stituted a  burden  which  no  God-fearing  people  could  have 
borne.  The  bond  issue  and  the  small  annual  interest  charge 
will  never  hurt  us,  but  If  we  had  listened  at  the  unenlightened 
fool  who  said:  "Let  the  insane,  the  feeble-minded,  the  weak, 


176  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the  sick  and  suffering  go,"  as  the  pagan  has  everywhere  let 
them  go,  it  would   have  dragged  us  down  to  hell. 

We  must  make  no  apology  for  the  discharge  of  such  plain 
duties  as  I  have  mentioned.  The  men  and  women  in  North 
Carolina  who  want  to  see  us  progress  must  stand  up  against 
the  Reactionary  and  the  little  statesman  who  has  no 
comprehension  of  the  modern  duties  of  statesmanship  and 
only  mind  enough  to  appeal  to  the  unenlightened  and 
ignorant  against  every  tax,  regardless  of  its  necessity. 

North  Carolina  collectively  and  through  its  government 
must  discharge  its  duty  to  God  and  humanity,  and  the 
people  must  become  enlightened  enough  to  frown  down  the 
ignorant  demagogue  who  seeks  their  suffrage  through  wild 
harangues  against  bonds  and  taxes,  regardless  of  the 
purpose  for  which  the  bonds  are  issued  and  the  taxes  levied. 
Some  of  these  enemies  of  civilization  and  humanity  are 
ready  without  regard  to  truth  or  justice  to  charge  any 
government  which  contracts  any  public  debt  or  levies  any 
additional  taxation  for  any  purpose,  however  necessary, 
with  waste,  extravagance,  etc.,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
exalted,  if  not  to  some  ofhce  they  are  unfit  to  fill,  at  least  to 
the  leadership  of  some  ignorant  faction  which  will  give  them 
some  supposed  dignity  and  power  to  harass  the  forces  of 
enlightenment    and    progress. 

North  Carolina  in  natural  resources  and  advantages  is 
not  surpassed  by  any  similar  area  on  the  earth.  If  we 
will  but  intelligently  develop,  and  train  and  educate  our 
youth,  as  youth  can  now  be  trained  and  educated,  the 
government  of  North  Carolina  will  not  be  a  burden  to 
anybody  whose  good  fortune  it  will  be  to  live  amid  its 
blessings. 

In  the  streams  of  Central  and  Western  North  Carolina 
we  have  between  one  and  a  half  and  two  millions  of  horse- 
power susceptible  of  development  and  transmission  at 
high  voltage  for  long  distances.  We  have  developed  only 
about  350,000  of  this  horsepower.  When  fully  developed 
it  would  give  us  additional  productive  energy  greater  than 
that  possessed  by  ten  million  unskilled  Chinese  laborers. 
We  must  develop  it.     It  can  and  will  be  developed  if  the 


Public  Addresses  177 

State  will  only  let  those  who  do  develop  it  be  assured  of  a 
fair  return  upon  their  investment.  These  non-navigable 
streams  of  Central  and  Western  North  Carolina  do  not 
belong  to  the  State,  but  to  the  individuals  who  own  the 
land  along  the  banks  of  the  streams.  If  we  want  to  progress 
in  North  Carolina  we  ought  to  encourage  the  development 
of  this  great  productive  energy. 

In  Eastern  North  Carolina  the  State  owns  navigable 
sounds  and  rivers  constituting  the  finest  body  of  navigable 
waters  in  the  Republic,  and  probably  in  the  world.  They 
constitute,  the  finest  fish,  oyster  and  sea-food  grounds  in  the 
Republic.  We  have  done  little  for  the  protection  and 
development  of  this  great  asset  of  the  State.  It  must  be 
done. 

The  program  now  being  worked  out  by  the  State  looks 
to  the  care  of  the  unfortunate  and  defective  of  the  State; 
the  protection  of  the  health  of  the  people  and  the  prevention, 
as  far  as  possible,  of  defectives  in  the  rising  generation; 
the  education  of  all  the  children  of  the  State  and  a  practical 
efficiency  for  them  which  those  who  have  gone  before  had  no 
opportunity  to  acquire;  the  building  of  a  great  system  of 
hard  surfaced  dependable  State  highways;  experiments  in 
scientific  agriculture  and  its  extension;  the  enforcement  of 
the  law  and  the  protection  of  all  business  from  riot  and 
disorder. 

For  the  carrying  out  of  this  program  no  burden  will  be 
placed  upon  anybody  who  is  not  able  to  bear  it.  The 
revenue  is  raised  through  a  system  of  taxation  nicely 
adjusted,  and  one  which  will  require  men  to  pay  according 
to  their  ability  to  pay.  Some  effort  to  stir  up  opposition 
to  the  program  is  manifested.  We  must  be  ready  for  the 
fight.  As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  if  it  must  come,  I  promise 
unflinching  determination  in  front  of  it.  The  forces  of 
enlightenment  and  progress  must  not  falter.  We  must  go 
on.  This  State  must  be  developed;  the  oncoming  youth 
trained  and  made  efficient  to  avoid  the  poverty  and  suffering 
which  we  have  had  to  undergo.  Victory  for  the  constructive 
and  progressive  forces  of  the  State  does  not  mean  oppression 
and  burden,  but  it  means  prosperity,  strength  and 
happiness. 


178  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


NORTH  CAROLINA  MUST  PROGRESS 
address  delivered  to  the  graduating  class 

AT    north    CAROLINA    STATE    COLLEGE 

MAY  30,  1922 

Gentlemen  of  the  Graduating  Class: 

I  congratulate  you  upon  the  successful  completion  of 
your  courses  of  preparation  for  life's  duties  provided  by 
your  State  and  country  in  this  great  institution. 

This  college  was  established  by  North  Carolina,  and  is 
generously  aided  by  the  United  States,  to  equip  and  train 
men  as  you  have  been.  You  are  the  products  of  modern 
statesmanship.  You  were  not  a  possibility  in  North 
Carolina,  or  elsewhere  in  the  South  twenty-five  years  ago, 
or  forty  years  ago,  of  any  state  in  the  Union.  The  State's 
highest  hopes  are  in  you  and  the  graduates  of  our  other 
institutions  for  higher  learning.  We  expect  much  of  all 
the  graduating  classes  from  our  colleges,  both  State  and 
private,  but  from  you  we  expect  strength  and  service  of  a 
supremely  important  character  which  the  others  have  not 
been  trained  to  give. 

We  need  your  technical  training  and  leadership  in  every 
field  in  which  you  are  educated  to  work.  We  thank  this 
college  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  educated  leaders  in 
agriculture,  manufacturing;  engineering,  chemistry,  me- 
chanics, etc.  It  is  indeed  a  noble  contribution  to  the 
strength  and  practical  efficiency  of  the  State.  I  am  proud  of 
you,  and  joyously  welcome  you  to  the  State's  unmatched 
opportunities  In  all  fields  for  which  you  are  trained. 

You  come  into  active  life  at  a  good  time.  The  high  pur- 
pose of  the  State  is  recognized  throughout  the  Republic. 
We  are  moved  by  great  progressive  and  constructive 
purposes.  We  have  been  anxiously  waiting  for  you  to  act 
as  officers  on  the  various  fields  of  practical  endeavor  for 
which  this  great  training  camp  has  prepared  you.  Please 
hurry  to  the  work.     We  have  long  suffered  for  lack  of  trained 


Public  Addresses  179 

officers  and  you  must  don  the  uniform  of  industry  and  go 
into  camp  at  once. 

Reinforcements  are  coming  to  the  camps  of  the  Progres- 
sive in  North  CaroHna  this  year  in  unprecedented  numbers 
from  Davidson,  Walie  Forest,  Trinity,  the  University,  the 
Woman's  College,  the  Greensboro  Female  College,  Peace 
Institute,  Saint  Mary's,  Meredith,  Queen's,  Elon,  and  many 
other  institutions  for  higher  learning.  It  is  all  glorious. 
Back  of  the  colleges,  seventeen  thousand  teachers,  in  school 
season,  are  daily  calling  into  seven  thousand  schoolhouses 
seven  hundred  thousand  children,  and  endeavoring  to 
prepare  them  for  college  and  for  life. 

We  must  keep  the  work  going  and,  as  rapidly  as  we  have 
the  means,  improve  the  character  of  it.  We  cannot  do 
much  better  than  we  are  doing  until  we  can  make  more 
money  to  pay  for  it  with.  If  North  Carolina  is  to  continue 
to  go  forward  we  must  make  more  money.  If  we  are  to 
make  more  money  we  must  first  realize  that  to  do  so  is 
both  a  sacred  and  patriotic  duty;  that  wealth  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  progress,  and  that  its  noblest  use  is  not 
selfish,  or  private,  but  public. 

I  believe  in  our  competitive  system,  and  abhor  Socialism; 
but  the  competitive  system  can  only  be  sustained  in  the 
oncoming  conflict  with  Socialism  by  a  reasonably  generous 
governmental  subjection  of  individually  or  corporately 
created  wealth  to  the  upbuilding  of  humanity  through 
schools  and  colleges,  care  of  the  defective,  and  other 
recognized  agencies  of  modern  and  progressive  government. 
We  must  be  moderate  and  conservative  but  men  must 
realize  that  wealth  is  no  longer  created  for  mere  selfish  and 
private  enjoyment,  but  in  part  for  great  collective  purposes 
without  which  the  great  mass  of  people  would  remain  in 
ignorance  and  misery. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  would  never  do  to  follow  the 
Socialist  and  take  it  all  for  collective  purposes  and  ignore 
the  rights  of  the  individual  who  created  it,  or  the  most  of  it, 
for  purposes  of  private  happiness  and  individual  liberty. 

We  can  easily  make  greater  annual  profits  in  North 
Carolina,    and   we   must   do   so,   both   for   individual   and 


180  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

public  purposes.  We  are  going  to  do  it  as  fast  as  we  can 
educate  our  people   and   increase  their  capacity. 

We  ought  to  study  horticulture  and  increase  a  thousand 
times  our  wealth  from  this  source. 

We  have  accomplished  much,  but  our  net  annual  profits 
from  agriculture  ought  to  be  easily  quadrupled. 

We  are  almost  at  the  foot  of  the  list  of  states  in  commerce 
proper.  We  must  make  up  in  this  great  basic  industry, 
and   at  least   control   our   domestic   commerce. 

We  can  tremendously  augment  our  manufactures. 

We  can  silence  demagogues  and  let  our  great  non- 
navigable  water-power  be  developed,  and  thereby  multiply 
by  ten  our  productive  energy. 

We  can  give  proper  protection  and  culture  to  our  fish 
and  oyster  and  sea-food  industry,  and  take  from  our  inland 
navigable  waters  wealth  equal  to  our  present  cotton  crop, 
and   at  greater   net   profit. 

We   beg   you   for   your   very   best   for   North   Carolina. 

We  are  progressing  mightily.  Put  your  shoulder  to 
the  wheel  without  delay,  and  justify  the  State's  investment 
in  this  college. 

I  want  you,  young  gentlemen,  to  join  me  today  in  a  high 
resolve;  one  that  I  believe  will  elevate  your  life,  and  make 
you  a  useful  man.     It  is  this: 

North  Carolina  must  progress. 


AGRICULTURAL    IMPROVEMENTS    NEEDED    IN 
NORTH  CAROLINA 

ADDRESS     DELIVERED    TO    THE     GRADUATING     CLASS    AT    THE 
NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLEGE  FOR  WOMEN 

JUNE  6,   1922 

Young  Ladies  of  the  Graduating  Class: 

I  congratulate  you  upon  having  taken  the  course  pre- 
scribed here.  You  must  be  splendidly  prepared  for  your 
life  work,  and  I  wish  you  every  success  and  joy  life  can 
give. 


Public  Addresses  181 

The  State  expects  much  from  this  year's  long  list  of 
college  graduates.  We  never  had  so  many  before  in  our 
history.  We  need  and  value  them  all.  But  we  regard  you, 
my  dear  young  ladies,  as  the  most  precious  and  promising 
class  of  them  all;  because  the  State  needs  young  women 
educated  and  technically  trained  as  you  have  been  more 
than  it  does  any  other  type  of  college  graduates.  I  wish 
you  every  success  and  all  the  joy  life  can  know. 

I  also  congratulate  the  under-graduates  upon  the  prog- 
ress made,  and  urge  them  to  persevere  until  they  finish 
the  great,  practical  course  provided  in  this  institution,  and 
join  the  finest  aristocracy  this  State  has  ever  known — the 
technically  and  culturally  trained  graduates  of  the  State 
College  for  Women. 

Your  State,  under  the  inspiration  of  that  truly  great 
educational  statesman,  Charles  Duncan  Mclver,  set  up  this 
institution  to  give  the  girls  of  the  State  a  more  technical 
and  practical  education  than  had  before  been  possible  in  the 
State.  It  has  grown  in  the  confidence  of  the  State  year  by 
year  until  today  it  is  the  pet  and  pride  of  every  intelligent 
North  Carolinian. 

I  congratulate  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  Faculty 
for  the  great  work  accomplished,  and  assure  them  of  my 
sympathy  and  appreciation. 

MUST   MAKE    NORTH    CAROLINA    COLLEGE    BEST 

We  must  make  this  college  the  equal  of  the  best  in 
America  of  its  type;  and  do  it  without  delay.  I  am  ready 
to  throw  all  the  power  and  influence  of  my  office  into  the 
fight  to  accomplish  it,  because  North  Carolina  can  not  do  a 
nobler,  grander  thing  than  to  give  its  precious  daughters  an 
opportunity  to  obtain  a  practical  and  technical  education. 

Commencement  is  a  sad  and  yet  sweet  occasion.  There 
are  few  occasions  upon  which  those  in  attendance  think 
more  deeply  and  unselfishly  upon  the  real,  primary  things 
of  life  than  at  college  commencements. 

The  commencement  speaker  quite  naturally  feels  disposed 
to  moralize  and  preach.  This  is  appropriate  and  proper, 
and  I  hope  the  usual  type  of  commencement  address  will 


182  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

continue  to  be  a  dissertation  on  moral  philosophy  and  reli- 
gion, adorned  with  every  literary  embellishment;  but  with 
your  kind  indulgence  today,  conscious  of  my  limitations  and 
lack  of  ability  to  edify  you  in  either  literature  or  moral 
philosophy,  I  will  discuss  what  seems  to  me  a  very  vital  and 
practical  subject  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina;  and  one 
to  which  this  great  institution  and  its  alumnae  ought  to 
give  very  serious  attention. 

AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE 

It  is  the  condition  of  the  State's  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture. 

The  agriculture  of  the  State,  with  improvement  in  one 
respect,  can  be  made  the  most  successful  in  this  great 
Republic  of  agriculture.  The  improvement  to  which  I 
refer  can  easily  be  brought  about  if  we  can  make  the  people 
realize  the  necessity  for  it. 

Horticulture  is  almost  wholly  neglected,  and  the  difficulty 
there  is  greater. 

AGRICULTURE 

What  is  the  matter  with  agriculture.? 

The  gross  value  of  our  annual  farm  crops  per  capita 
exceeds  that  of  any  other  state  in  the  Union.  Per  acre 
planted,  the  annual  value  of  our  farm  crops  is  first  where 
any  real  farming  is  done;  one  or  two  states  where  only  a 
little  trucking,  etc.,  is  done,  exceeds  us.  We  are  the  fifth 
state  in  aggregate  value,  although  the  twenty-seventh  in 
area. 

This  comparative  position  is  a  source  of  great  pride  to 
us,  and  yet,  in  spite  of  this  glorious  achievement,  our 
farmers  are  not  prosperous.  They  never  have  been  pros- 
perous since  the  Civil  War,  except  for  a  year  or  so  during  the 
World  War.  They  never  will  be  prosperous  upon  the 
character  of  agriculture  now  practiced  in  the  State.     Why.? 


Public  Addresses  183 


SCIENCE   OF  AGRICULTURE   NEGLECTED 

Because  it  is  not  the  noble  science  of  agriculture  at  all 
which  we  practice.  We  have  almost  totally  neglected  either 
to  study  or  practice  agriculture  in  the  broad,  world-accepted 
definition  of  agriculture.  What  we  call  farming  in  North 
Carolina  is  little  more  than  speculation  in  the  price  of  cotton 
and  tobacco.  It  is,  of  course,  distinguished  from  pure 
speculation  morally,  but  the  hazard  is  the  same,  and  is 
periodically  visited  by  the  same  vicissitudes  of  disaster. 
The  hazard  to  the  speculator  in  cotton  or  tobacco  is  less 
than  to  the  grower. 

How  long  are  we  going  to  keep  it  up.?  Through  a  long 
period  of  years  we  have  tried  it  with  about  this  result: 

One  year  we  will  make  a  little  money,  and  the  next  two 
lose  it.  We  have  blamed  hostile  legislation  for  the  result. 
This  did  frequently  aggravate  it.  We  have  blamed  the 
trusts  for  manipulating  the  market,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
they  have  hurt  at  times.  But  the  fact  remains  that  raising 
cotton  and  tobacco  in  large  quantities  for  the  market  upon 
food  supplies  purchased  with  borrowed  money  is  a  highly 
speculative  business,  and  will  remain  so  under  any  govern- 
ment, and  independently  of  the  trusts  and  market  manipu- 
lations. Those  engaged  in  it  have  never  prospered,  and 
never  will. 

WHAT  SHALL  WE  DO.? 

What  are  we  going  to  do  about  it.?  Keep  up  the  fight 
along  old  lines.?  It  is  absolute  folly  to  do  so.  We  may, 
by  temporary,  artificial  means  improve  matters  from  time 
to  time,  in  certain  aspects  of  the  business,  but  raising  cotton 
and  tobacco  for  the  market  can  never  be  made  anything  but 
a  highly  speculative  and  hazardous  business.  The  element 
of  hazard  cannot  be  removed,  and  we  ought  to  face  the  facts. 

But  we  can  tremendously  decrease  the  hazard  by  adopt- 
ing a  very  simple  change  in  system  and  business  method. 
We  ought  to  study  the  noble  science  of  agriculture  and 
horticulture,  and  practice  them  in  connection  with  our 
speculation  in  cotton  and  tobacco. 


184  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

We  have  the  finest  growers  of  cotton  and  tobacco  in 
North  CaroHna  to  be  found  in  the  world,  but  we  have  very 
fev/  great  masters  of  the  science  of  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture. I  am  satisfied  our  tobacco  and  cotton  growers 
would  make  the  finest  farmers  in  the  world  if  they  could 
be  induced  to  undertake  it.  As  specialists  in  cotton  and 
tobacco  they  have  beat  the  world,  and  I  am  sure  as  general 
practitioners  in  agriculture  and  horticulture  they  would  be 
gloriously  successful. 

MUST  RAISE  OUR  OWN  FOOD 

We  must  cease  growing  cotton  and  tobacco  upon  food 
supplies  purchased  in  Illinois,  Nebraska,  Iowa,  Missouri, 
and  elsewhere.  We  ought  not  to  grow  a  pound  of  tobacco 
or  cotton  on  a  farm  in  this  State  except  upon  food  grown 
upon  the  farm.  Cotton  and  tobacco  are  very  good  money 
crops,  but  neither  these  or  any  other  crop  for  the  market 
ought  to  be  the  chief  concern  or  basis  of  our  agriculture. 
The  primary,  basic  concern  of  every  farm  ought  to  be  plenty 
of  home-raised  food  for  every  human  being  and  every 
animal  on  it.  The  food  ought  to  be  abundant  and  of  great 
variety.  The  extent  of  the  money  crops  for  the  market 
should  be  regulated  by  the  food  supplies  at  hand  upon 
which  to  grow  them.  We  can  never  have  a  prosperous 
agriculture  upon  any  other  basis ;  and  upon  this  solid  founda- 
tion the  farmers  of  North  Carolina  can  defy  and  laugh  at  all 
their  would-be  oppressors. 

women's  PART  IS  VITAL 

The  women  of  North  Carolina  must  play  an  important 
part  if  we  are  ever  to  change  our  suicidal  system.  This  insti- 
tution and  its  alumnae  ought  to  lead  the  way.  You  could 
do  it  gloriously.  I  beg  you  to  organize  and  take  up  the  fight. 
We  must  hurry,  for  the  boll  weevil  makes  the  danger  of  the 
old  system  greater  than  ever  before. 

We  want  the  women  of  North  Carolina  to  help  us  put 
a  small  home  orchard  on  every  farm  home  in  the  State,  in- 
cluding one  around  every  tenant  or  cropper  home.     It  can 


Public  Addresses  185 

be  done  for  ten  or  fifteen  dollars  a  home.  It  is  a  shame  to 
raise  children,  even  negro  ones,  in  any  home  on  a  farm  with- 
out plenty  of  good  fruit  around  it.  It  can  be  done  so  cheaply. 
It  would  pay  every  landlord  tenfold  for  the  small  outlay. 
We  ought  to  add  a  few  berry  bushes  and  a  grape  vine;  and 
where  they  will  grow,  a  scuppernong  vine. 

MUST  BOOST  HORTICULTURE 

We  must  excite  study  and  interest  in  horticulture.  It  is 
a  noble  science,  and  the  great  mass  of  our  people  must  be- 
come interested  in  it.  We  ought  to  add  a  few  nut  trees  on 
every  farm.  The  additional  cost  will  be  trifling.  I  wish  I 
had  time  to  dwell  upon  the  picture,  and  point  to  the  fine 
cultural  effect  the  orchard,  grape  vine,  and  nut  trees  would 
produce. 

My  dear  young  ladies,  you  can  help  cause  this  to  be  done. 
It  will  contribute  to  the  health  and  happiness  of  unborn 
millions;  and  then  it  is  so  easy  to  do  if  we  could  only  want 
to.  It  would  be  splendid  to  see  the  women  organized  and 
leading  the  people  to  put  these  inexpensive  fruit  and  nut 
trees,  berry  bushes  and  grape  vines  around  every  home  in 
the  State  where  children  may  live. 

GARDENING  VITALLY  IMPORTANT 

Next  we  must  study  gardening,  and  practice  it.  It 
ought  to  be  a  felony  not  to  have  a  garden  in  connection  with 
every  home  in  town  or  country  in  this  State.  The  women 
are  the  natural  gardeners.  They  must  take  the  lead  in 
this  most  vital  matter. 

The  garden  will  always  pay.  Neither  the  tariff,  the 
trusts,  nor  any  other  age-old  goblin  of  disaster  can  prevent  it. 
We  are  very  poor  gardeners.  We  ought  to  master  the  sub- 
ject and  fill  the  State  with  the  finest  vegetable  gardens  in  the 
world,  and  then  learn  to  eat  vegetables.  We  cannot  grow 
healthy  children  or  keep  healthy  ourselves  without  vege- 
tables. 

The  garden  has  been  looked  upon  as  a  nuisance  by  the 
men    folks,    and    tolerated    as    feminine    folly.     We    must 


186  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

dignify  the  garden  and  get  fifteen  or  twenty  per  cent  of  the 
food  to  make  us  independent  from  it. 

poultry  and  eggs 

Next,  poultry  and  eggs.  Here  the  women  must  take 
the  lead.  We  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  ourselves  not  to  give 
the  children  of  North  Carolina  more  chicken  than  we  do. 
The  little  fellows  expect  chicken  on  Sunday,  and  when  the 
preacher  comes,  or  other  company.  They  ought  to  have 
chicken  every  other  day,  and  eggs  every  morning. 

We  must  become  more  ambitious.  Why,  we  only  aspire 
to  turkey  Christmas  and  Thanksgiving  Day.  We  ought  to 
have  a  turkey  dinner  in  every  thrifty  country  home  every 
other  Sunday,  and  invite  the  poor  town  friends  and  rela- 
tives out  to  a  good  meal. 

We  must  have  poultry  and  eggs  in  abundance,  and  cut 
the  food  bill  we  are  paying  the  Northwest  for  "white  side 
and  fat  back." 

HOGS,     cows    and    milk 

Next  hogs.  Hogs  with  four  legs  are  our  best  defense 
against  the  two-legged  variety  who  have  been  eating  up 
our  tobacco  and  cotton  growers.  We  ought  to  raise  every 
pound  of  hog  meat  we  eat.  The  women  are  not  the  natural 
leaders  in  raising  hogs.  It  suits  men  better.  We  under- 
stand hogs  better  than  women  do.  But  the  women  must 
see  that  we  attend  to  it. 

Next,  milch  cows.  We  cannot  grow  healthy  children 
without  plenty  of  milk,  butter,  etc. 

Fruits,  nuts,  grapes,  vegetables,  poultry  and  eggs,  milk 
and  butter,  cheese,  bees  and  honey,  these  and  kindred  things 
will  make  North  Carolina  independent  and  happy.  We 
would  be  strong  enough  to  raise  cotton  and  tobacco  in  large 
quantities  without  disaster,  if  we  had  all  these  other  things. 

Then,  women  of  North  Carolina,  fill  the  State  with  flowers, 
vines,  shrubbery,  and  beauty.     This  is  your  work,  too. 

The  State  has  never  been  moved  by  greater  purposes 
than  now.     We  are  glad  to  be  reinforced  by  the  long  list  of 


Public  Addresses  187 

trained  men  and  women  coming  this  year  from  the  colleges. 
You  have  the  deep  interest  of  the  whole  State. 

YOUR  "angel  dream" 

It  is  the  period  in  your  lives  when  God  is  likely  to  send 
your  "Angel  Dream."     Doane  in  his  beautiful  "Sculptor" 

says: 

Chisel  in  hand  stood  a  sculptor  boy 

With  a  marble  block  before  him. 

His  face  lit  up  with  a  smile  of  joy 

As  an  angel  dream  passed  o'er  him. 

He  carved  that  dream  on  the  yielding  stone 

With  many  a  sharp  incision. 

In  Heaven's  own  light  the  image  shone, — 

He  had  caught  that  angel  vision. 

Sculptors  of  life  are  we  as  we  stand 

With  our  lives  uncarved  before  us, 

Waiting  the  hour  when  at  God's  command 

Our  life-dream  passes  o'er  us. 

Let  us  carve  that  dream  on  the  yielding  stone 

With  many  a  sharp  incision, — 

Its  heavenly  beauty  shall  be  our  own, 

Our  lives,  that  angel  vision, 

I  hope  the  "life-dream"  of  many  of  you  will  be  a  greater 
and  nobler  North  Carolina;  made  stronger  and  more  effi- 
cient to  serve  humanity;  and  that  the  beauty  of  it  will  be 
in  your  very  soul. 

The  State  is  our  all,  except  the  precious  chain  that  binds 
us  to  the  Union  of  States.  It  is  not  the  fifty-two  thousand 
square  miles  of  beautiful  area  comprised  that  makes  the 
State.  It  is  not  the  two  and  one-half  million  souls  living 
in  it.  It  is  not  the  beloved  dead  and  the  graves  of  our  loved 
ones;  it  is  not  the  proud  history  and  the  glorious  traditions. 
It  is  all  these,  and,  in  addition,  all  the  hopes  and  aspirations 
of  future  greatness,  power  and  goodness  which  may  sur- 
round our  children  and  keep  them  safe  from  harm,  when  we 
are  gone. 


188  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

There  is  a  land,  of  every  land  the  pride, 

Beloved  by  Heaven  o'er  all  the  world  beside; 

Where  brighter  suns  dispense  serener  light. 

And  milder  moons  imparadise  the  night; 

A  land  of  beauty,  virtue,  valor,  truth, 

Time-tutored  age,  and  love-exalted  youth. 

Where  shall  that  land,  that  spot  of  earth  be  found? 

Art  thou  a  man?  a  patriot?  look  around! 

Ah!  thou  shalt  find,  howe'er  thy  footsteps  roam, 

That  land  thy  country,  and  that  spot  thy  home. 


ROBERT  BURNS 

SPEECH      DELIVERED      BEFORE     THE      SCOTTISH      SOCIETY     OF 
AMERICA,    AT    NEW    YORK 

JANUARY  25,  1923 

Robert  Burns  was  born  on  the  25th  day  of  January, 
1759,  on  a  farm  of  seven  acres,  which  his  father  did  not 
even  own,  but  had  leased  for  a  short  term  of  years.  He 
lived  only  a  little  more  than  thirty-seven  years.  He  never 
became  a  landowner,  for  most  of  his  short  life  he  was  a  very 
small  tenant  farmer.  The  only  other  occupation  he  followed 
was  that  of  a  revenue  or  tax  collector,  for  a  short  while 
in  the  district  in  which  he  lived.  His  annual  salary  for 
this  work  was  small.  He  read  few  books  during  his  short 
life,  and  attended  only  an  inferior  community  school  for 
awhile  when  a  boy. 

He  was  always  grindingly  poor,  and  knew  little  happiness 
on  this  earth.  He  had  personal  weaknesses  and  sins  that 
caused  him  much  unhappiness;  and  yet  in  spite  of  his  harsh 
environment,  the  literature  he  created  out  of  materials 
around  him,  and  from  the  things  he  saw,  and  discovered  in 
the  rugged  people  of  his  beloved  Scotland,  is  being  taught 
in  every  university  in  the  world.  He  grows  greater  year  by 
year,  and  is  destined  to  grow  until  the  poetry  of  Robert 
Burns  dominates  the  hearts  of  men  and  women  everywhere. 


Public  Addresses  189 

Although  the  world  did  not  recognize  him,  during  his 
short  Hfe,  for  his  real  worth,  he  was  unquestionably  the 
greatest  democrat  who  ever  lived. 

Robert  Burns  did  not  radiate  bitterness  against  the 
fortunate  classes,  but  he  exalted  the  virtues  of  the  poor  and 
struggling  with  a  power  that  will  never  die  until  men  look 
through  externals  and  acknowledge  everywhere  on  earth 
that  "A  man's  a  man  for  a'  that,  for  a'  that  and  a'  that." 
Burns  is  winning  the  battle  of  the  masses  by  arousing 
their  own  pride,  self-respect  and  independence  without 
teaching  class  hate  and  meanness. 

The  most  powerful  presentation  of  democracy  in  all  liter- 
ature is  "The  Cotter's  Saturday  Night."  The  law  ought 
to  require  every  university  in  the  land  to  teach  this  poem. 
Students  ought  to  be  required  to  stand  a  satisfactory  exam- 
ination on  it,  before  being  allowed  to  graduate.  It  is 
required  in  may  universities.  This  noble  poem  teaches  the 
life  of  an  obscure  class,  small  tenant  farmers,  but  it  is  a  uni- 
versal type,  and,  in  kind,  found  all  over  the  earth.  The 
picture  of  the  "toil-worn  cotter,"  having  finished  the  week's 
labor,  collecting  his  spades,  mattocks,  hoes,  etc.,  coming 
home  to  spend  the  Saturday  night,  and  hoping  "The  morn  in 
ease  and  rest  to  spend"  has  touched  the  hearts  of  millions, 
and  will  forever  touch  the  heart  of  those  who  reverence 
real  worth. 

The  picture  Burns  draws  of  the  "toil-worn  cotter"  in 
his  humble  home  with  wife  and  children  about  him,  for- 
getting his  labor  and  his  toil,  is  one  of  the  noblest  pictures 
ever  drawn  from  obscure  truth  by  genius.  The  beauty 
of  the  family  gathering,  the  homely  virtues,  the  industry, 
the  sweet  affection,  the  deep  religious  attitude,  the  patriotic 
touch  embracing  every  virtue  as  it  does  in  this  obscure  and 
humble  home,  constitute  an  appeal  so  powerful  for  democracy 
that  it  can  never  die. 

The  picture  of  the  young  daughter,  Jenny,  and  the 
neighbor-boy  beau  gives  a  glimpse  of  pure  love  never 
approached  by  the  genius  of  Byron. 

The  picture  of  the  industrious  mother  is  glorious. 
The  religious  touch  is  sublime. 


190  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  admonition  of  the  "toil-worn  cotter"  father  before 
supper: 

An'  O'  be  sure  to  fear  the  Lord  alway! 

An'  mind  your  duty^  duly,  morn  an'  night! 
Lest  in  temptation's  path  ye  gang  astray, 

Implore  His  counsel  and  assisting  might: 
They  never  sought  in  vain  that  sought  the  Lord  aright! 

Then  after  their  scant  meal  of  porridge,  cheese,  etc. 

The  sire  turns  o'er,  wi'  patriarchal  grace 

The  big  ha^ -Bible,  ance  his  father's  pride: 

and  then  with  solemn  air  commands: 

Let  us  worship  God! 

Burns,  after  the  religious  service,  one  of  the  sweetest 
and  most  beautifully  sublime  ever  held  under  the  creative 
genius  of  a  poet,  says : 

Compared  with  this,  how  poor  Religion's  pride, 

In  all  the  pomp  of  method,  and  of  art, 
When  men  display  to  congregations  wide. 

Devotion's  ev'ry  grace,  except  the  heart! 
The  PowW,  incensed,  the  pageant  will  desert, 

The  pompous  strain,  the  sacerdotal  stole; 
But  haply,  in  some  cottage  far  apart, 

May  hear,  well-pleased,  the  language  of  the  soul; 
And  in  his  book  of  life  the  inmates  poor  enroll. 

Then  the  pride  and  patriotism  of  Burns  over  the  picture 
he  has  drawn  when  he  bursts  into  an  expression  of  admira- 
tion and  patriotism  that  stirs  the  blood  even  now: 

From  scenes  like  these  old  Scotia\r  grandeur  springs, 

That  makes  her  loved  at  home,  revered  abroad; 
Princes  and  lords  are  but  the  breath  of  kings, 

"An  honest  man's  the  noblest  work  of  God!" 
And  certes,  in  fair  virtue's  heav'nly  road. 

The  cottage  leaves  the  palace  far  behind; 
What  is  a  lordling's  pomp!  a  cumbrous  load. 

Disguising  oft  the  wretch  of  human  kind, 
Studied  in  arts  of  hell,  in  wickedness  refined! 


Public  Addresses  191 

O  Scotial  my  dear,,  my  native  soil! 

For  whom  my  warmest  wish  to  Heaven  is  sent! 
Long  may  thy  hardy  sons  of  rustic  toil 

Be  blest  with  health,  and  peace,  and  sweet  content! 
And,  O!  may  Heav'n  their  simple  lives  prevent 

From  Luxury's  contagion,  weak  and  vile! 
Then,  howe'er  crowns  and  coronets  be  rent, 

A  virtuous  populace  may  rise  the  while, 
And  stand  a  wall  of  fire  around  their  much  loved  Isle. 

O  Thou!  who  pour'd  the  patriotic  tide. 

That  stream'd  thro'  Wallace's  undaunted  heart; 
Who  dared  to  nobly  stem  tyrannic  pride. 

Or  nobly  die,  the  second  glorious  part, 
(The  patriot's  God,  peculiarly  thou  art. 

His  friend,  inspirer,  guardian,  and  reward.) 
O  never,  never,  Scotia's  realm  desert; 

But  still  the  patriot  and  the  patriot  bard, 
In  bright  succession  rise,  her  ornament  and  guard! 

But  while  Burns  presents  the  cause  of  the  masses,  the 
downtrodden  and  the  oppressed  everywhere,  as  no  other 
man  who  has  lived  on  earth  has  presented  it,  he  did  not 
assault  and  arouse  bitterness  against  the  classes.  For  the 
supreme  glory  of  Burns's  poetry  and  philosophy  is  summed 
up  in  the  last  verse  of  "Is  There  for  Honest  Poverty" :  ^ 

Then  let  us  pray,  that  come  it  may, 

As  come  it  will,  for  a'  that, 
That  sense  and  worth,  o'er  a'  the  earth, 

May  bear  the  gree,  and  a'  that. 
For  a'  that,  and  a'  that. 

It's  comin'  yet  for  a'  that, 
That  man  to  man,  the  warld  o'er, 

Shall  brothers  be  for  a'  that. 

Robert  Burns  never  radiated  class  hatred,  but  taught, 
and  is  still  teaching  the  world,  reverence  and  love  for  all 
mankind. 

What  we  need  in  this  country  today  is  a  real  baptism 
in  the  democratic  poetry  of  Robert  Burns,  and  the  demo- 

'This  is  the  first  line  in  "A  Man's  a  Man  For  A'  That." 


192  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

cratic    statesmanship    of   Thomas   Jefferson.     Jefferson    is 
the  statesman  of  democracy,  as  Burns  is  the  poet. 

Jefferson  did  more  than  any  statesman  in  all  the  sum  of 
time  to  hasten  the  day  to  which  the  great  hearted  Burns 
referred  when  he  said: 

It's  coming  yet,  for  a'  that, 

That  man  to  man,  the  warld  o'er. 
Shall  brothers  be  for  a'  that. 

Jefferson,  the  statesman,  taught  the  United  States,  and 
will  finally  teach  the  world,  that  the  way  to  make  Burns's 
all-embracing  poetic  democratic  thought  a  reality  is: 

Equal  and  exact  justice  to  all  men  of  whatever  state  or  persuasion, 
religious  or  political, 

or  as  more  often  expressed: 

Equal  rights  to  all  and  special  privileges  to  none. 

The  danger  to  democracy  in  our  country  is  in  the  class 
grouping  of  our  people.  We  are  dissolving  into  organizations 
of  manufacturers,  capitalists,  laborers,  farmers,  etc.,  each 
fighting  for  the  rights  of  his  class,  and  exciting  more  and 
more  class  contention  and  rivalry.  We  must  arouse  the 
country  against  the  danger  of  Soviet  or  class  government. 
We  must  light  for  "equal  rights  to  all,"  and  against  "special 
privileges  to  any  class,"  whatsoever. 

Democracy  rests  upon  the  principle  of  exact  and  equal 
justice  to  all,  and  regardless  of  class  or  station  in  life,  looks 
anxiously  to  the  day  of  universal  brotherhood.  Its  great- 
est danger  today  is  that  the  principle  is  being  forgotten  in 
the  clash  of  groups  contending  for  supremacy  and  selfish 
advantage. 

This  country  must  not  be  dominated  by  merchants  and 
manufacturers,  or  bankers,  or  labor,  organized  or  unorgan- 
ized, but  it  ought  to  be  dominated  by  just  men  moving  from 
these,  and  every  class  with  the  poetry  of  Robert  Burns  in 
their  hearts  and  the  statesmanship  of  Thomas  Jefferson  in 
their  minds. 


Public  Addresses  193 

Men  of  every  class  are  losing  sight  of  the  basic  principles 
of  democracy  upon  which  the  government  rests;  and  if 
we  do  not  come  to  reason  soon,  and  call  together  men  from 
every  class,  v/ho  love  democracy  and  justice,  to  do  battle 
with  those  who  are  standing  under  the  yet  mild  Soviet  ban- 
ners of  chambers  of  commerce,  labor  unions  and  farm  organi- 
zations, this  great  Republic  of  ours  will  be  shaken  to  its 
very  foundations. 

We  have  one  class  of  men  in  this  country  who  seek  to  use 
the  taxing  power  to  tax  the  whole  mass  of  the  people  for  a 
few  favored  ones;  and  another  class  who  seek  reprisal  by 
unjust  and  confiscating  sur-income  taxes  upon  all  the  rich, 
although  they  ought  to  have  sense  enough  to  know  that  one 
injustice  can  never  be  safely  destroyed  by  another  injustice, 
and  that  the  reprisal  tax  will  get  those  who  are  not  bene- 
ficiaries of  the  unjust  tariff  tax,  as  well  as  those  who  are. 

The  supreme  defense  of  democracy  is  justice. 

The  democracy  of  the  United  States  has  no  greater  enemy 
than  the  vaporing,  crack-headed,  class-hating  demagogue 
who,  in  the  name  of  the  masses  unjustly  attacks  the  fortunate 
classes,  and  instills  hate  in  the  hearts  of  the  American 
people.  Some  men  are  doing  this  who  think  they  are  demo- 
crats. The)/'  are  mistaken.  It  is  meanness  that  has  pos- 
sessed them,  and  not  democracy. 

Under  our  free,  representative,  constitutional,  demo- 
cratic scheme  of  government,  the  rich  are  merely  "toil- 
worn  cotters,"  who  under  the  great  opportunities  of  our 
government  have  been  successful.  Fools  and  scoundrels  are 
busy  trying  to  make  great  masses  believe  that  the  rich 
and  successful  are  but  the  beneficiaries  of  rascality  and 
scoundrelism.  Such  men  are  the  greatest  danger  to  democ- 
racy and  free  government,  and  if  their  influence  is  not 
counteracted,  they  will  subvert  our  great  democracy,  and 
substitute  a  Soviet  government  of  some  class,  founded  on 
the  principles  of  oligarchy  and  class  selfishness. 

The  competitive  principle  of  civilization  is  the  only  one 
upon  which  a  democracy  can  rest.  We  must  destroy 
special  privileges  in  our  government  wherever  found,  and 
then,  under  a  representative,  democratic  and  just  govern- 

13 


194  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

ment  give  all  men  the  opportunity  to  attain  and  enjoy  as 
much  success  as  their  genius  or  labor  can  win. 

The  successful  men  of  every  class  in  the  United  States 
are  but  examples  of  the  opportunities  of  a  free  and  demo- 
cratic government.  It  is  an  infamous  lie  that  success  in 
the  United  States  is,  as  a  rule,  the  result  of  cunning,  favor- 
itism and  rascality.  Success  has  usually  come  only  to 
those  who  believe  in  justice,  dealt  fairly,  won  the  confidence 
of  the  public,  and  had  ability  and  worth.  Of  course, 
rascality  has  now  and  then  seemed  to  succeed  for  a  time, 
but  not  as  a  rule. 

In  a  free  democracy,  such  as  ours,  if  the  "toil-worn 
cotter"  cannot  move  out,  and  take  advantage  of  the  great 
opportunities  offered  in  our  free  country,  without  being 
pilloried  by  demagogues  and  hypocrites  as  a  robber  and 
scoundrel,  if  successful,  then  the  American  principle  is 
wrong,  and  free  government  ought  to  be  replaced  by  a 
despotism  under  which  individual  initiative  and  oppor- 
tunity would  be  restricted,  and  men  not  allowed  to  rise 
through  labor,  genius  or  ability  above  a  fixed  standard  of 
success,  allowed  by  some  socialistic  dreamer  who  might  be  in 
power.  Such  a  government  would  not  be  a  democracy  but  a 
despotism,  under  which  what  men  could  do  would  be  fixed 
by  the  few  who  happen  to  control  the  government  at  the 
time. 

I  believe  in  a  government  which  looks  down  with  rever- 
ence upon  the  tired  Christian  and  patriot  as  he  gathers  his 
family  about  him  in  a  cottage  to  enjoy  his  Saturday  night 
and  Sunday  rest,  and  which  looks  to  the  education  and 
training  of  his  children,  so  that  the  offspring  of  the  cottage 
dweller  may  have  an  opportunity  by  increased  efficiency  and 
power  to  climb  the  loftiest  heights  of  business,  intellectual 
or  literary  success. 

It  is  the  glory  of  American  democracy  as  expressed  in  our 
fabric  of  free  government  that  the  girl  or  b>oy  of  the  "toil- 
worn  cotter,"  typified  and  glorified  in  Burns's  immortal 
poem  may  attain  the  wealth  of  a  Baker,  a  Rockefeller  or  a 
Ford;  and  that  America  will  salute  him  for  his  success  and 


Public  Addresses  195 

not  loot  and  destroy  him  by  infamous  class  legislation  in 
the  name  of  justice  and  democracy. 

In  conclusion,  may  I  appeal  for  men  and  women  from 
every  class  to  study  Burns's  poetry  and  Jefferson's  politics, 
and  come  together  for  a  determined  defense  of  representa- 
tive, democratic  government  against  every  group  flying  a 
hostile  banner.  Let  our  answer  to  the  dreamy  Socialist, 
to  the  apostle  of  Lenin  and  the  Sovietism  of  Russia,  to 
the  conceited,  empty-headed  followers  of  every  hostile 
flag  be: 

The  government  of  the  United  States  and  the  constitu- 
tional principles  of  representative  government  upon  which 
our  fabric  of  free  government  rests  is  final  and  ultimate 
truth  about  government  on  this  earth,  and  in  its  defense  we 
live,  ever  ready  to  die  against  traitors  within  or  foes  from 
without.  Through  this  government  and  the  example  it  will 
set  will  finally  come  the  democracy  for  which  Burns  and 
Jefferson  so  powerfully  wrought. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  DAY 

SPEECH  DELIVERED   BEFORE  THE   ROTARY  CLUB, 

CHARLOTTE,    N.    C. 

OCTOBER  1,   1923 

My  fellow  Citize7is: 

I  appear  before  you  this  evening  to  justify,  by  fair  argu- 
ment, the  record  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  administra- 
tion of  your  State  government  since  the  inauguration  of 
the  present  administration,  and  to  urge  your  acceptance 
and  endorsement  of  the  future  program  of  the  party  as 
declared  in  the  recently  adopted  party  platform. 

The  record  of  the  party  back  of  this  period  is  glorious 
in  achievement  for  the  State  and  its  people,  but  as  it  has 
been  endorsed  by  the  people  at  biennial  elections,  up  to  the 
present  administration,  I  shall  not  consume  the  time  appro- 
priated for  this  address  in  laudation  of  that  which  you  have 
already  endorsed  and  in  which  I  know  you  take  great  pride. 


196  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Logically,  it  seems  to  me  the  important  administration  in  the 
coming  election  is  the  present  one,  and  the  important  plat- 
form the  one  upon  which  the  candidates  soon  to  be  voted  for 
stand.  I  shall,  therefore,  forego  the  delight  I  would  find 
in  studying  with  you  the  great  history  of  the  past,  and  invite 
you  to  the  consideration  of  the  problems  and  duties  of  the 
hour. 

I  cannot  make  a  regular  campaign,  partisan  stump  speech. 
I  have  made  them.  I  may  make  them  again;  but  not 
while  I  am  Governor  for  all  the  people  of  North  CaroHna. 
The  language  of  fervid  campaign  oratory  would  not  be 
becoming  in  the  Governor  for  all  the  people  of  this  great 
State.  I  shall  not  use  it  tonight,  or  on  any  other  occasion 
while  I  am  Governor.  But  in  as  near  the  language  of  the 
calm  business  man  as  I  can  command,  and  with  broad 
charity  and  tolerance  for  our  opponents,  I  shall  endeavor  to 
establish  that  the  record  of  the  present  administration 
merits  your  endorsement,  and  the  promises  of  the  present 
platform  should  have  your  enthusiastic  support. 

What  is  the  record.? 

Every  promise  of  the  last  campaign  sacredly  kept  in 
generous  measure.  I  challenge  our  opponents  to  show 
wherein  we  have  failed  the  people  in  a  single  expectation 
excited  by  the  platform,  or  campaign  promises  of  the  candi- 
dates two  years  ago. 

The  Democratic  party  is  a  loyal  people's  organization, 
and  when  it  was  again  entrusted  with  power  it  did  what 
it  had  always  done  when  entrusted  with  power — faithfully 
and  proudly  executed  the  will  and  crystallized  judgment  of 
the  people  of  the  State.  It  was  necessary  to  do  some  bold 
things,  under  the  circumstances  brought  about  by  the 
depressed  times,  very  bold  things,  but  confident  we  were 
duly  commissioned  by  the  people  to  do  them,  and  trusting 
to  the  loyalty  of  the  great  people  we  served  to  uphold  and 
sustain  us,  we  proceeded  in  their  name  and  for  them  to 
carry  through  the  greatest  program  of  constructive 
statesmanship  in  the  history  of  the  governments  of  the 
states  of  this  great  Union. 


Public  Addresses  197 

We  boldly  held  everything  progressive  and  constructive 
already  set  up,  and  fortified  it  with  our  endorsement  and 
increased  support. 

We  found  the  State  had  grown  so  fast  that  we  were  not 
equipped  to  take  humane  care  of  our  defective  and  afflicted 
people,  the  insane,  the  deaf  and  dumb,  the  blind,  the  feeble- 
minded children,  the  tubercular  people,  the  morally  delin- 
quent boys  and  girls  of  the  State;  and  that  our  institutions 
for  higher  learning  were  sadly  inadequate;  that  our  common 
school  system  had  to  be  strengthened,  as  biennially  had 
been  done  for  a  long  period,  and  yet  must  go  on  to  meet 
the  ever  increasing  responsibilities;  that  our  roads  were  a 
disgrace  to  the  State,  and  in  many  sections  of  the  State 
impassable. 

What  were  we  to  do  about  it.?     Your  will,  and  God's. 
This  was  the  duty  of  the  Democratic  party.     We  met 
the  responsibility.     We  made  North  Carolina  do  the  duty  of 
a  great  and  enlightened  State  as  you  wanted  us  to  do. 

We  authorized  an  issue  of  six  million  seven  hundred 
thousand  dollars  of  the  State's  bonds,  at  interest  not 
to  exceed  five  per  cent  with  which  to  do  it,  and  I  am  here 
tonight,  not  to  apologize  for  it,  but  to  justify  it  and  to 
establish  that  Noth  Carolina  had  to  do  it,  or  rot  and  decay. 
But  that  having  done  it,  and  in  the  way  we  did  it;  that  is 
the  fiscal  policy  employed  and  the  justice  attained  in  plac- 
ing the  burden,  we  stand  before  the  United  States  and  the 
world  uplifted  and  glorified,  and  tonight  North  Carolina 
can  stand  up  and  look  God  and  man  in  the  face  and  declare 
we  are  trying  to  do  the  duty  of  a  Christian  civilization  and 
glorify  our  Creator. 

Look  into  the  bond  matter  with  me. 

We  issued  six  million  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  bonds  for  the  enlargement  of  the  institutions  for 
our  defective  and  unfortunate  people  and  for  the  insti- 
tutions for  higher  learning.  This  will  entail  an  added 
annual  interest  charge  to  the  State  of  about  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  I  will  show  you  in  a 
few  minutes  how  we  provided  for  its  payment 


198  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

But  what  have  we  done  with  the  proceeds  of  these  bonds  ? 
My  time  will  not  permit  me  to  describe  it  in  all  its  glory. 
We  have  taken,  or  will  soon  finish  taking,  fifteen  hundred 
insane  people  out  of  the  jails,  poorhouses,  and  houses 
where  they  could  not  be  cared  for,  and  carried  them  to 
the  great  Insane  Asylum  for  colored  people  at  Goldsboro, 
and  the  great  asylums  for  the  insane  of  our  own  race  at 
Raleigh  and  Morganton,  where  we  have  provided  for  their 
care  and  treatment  by  the  greatest  medical  staffs  treating 
the  insane  of  any  state  in  all  America,  if  not  in  the  world. 

We  have  provided  for  about  three  hundred  more  feeble- 
minded children  to  be  carried  to  that  great  institution  at 
Kinston,  and  administered  to  and  mended. 

We  have  provided  for  seventy-nine  more  tubercular 
people  to  be  carried  to  the  Sanatorium  in  Moore  County,  and 
ministered  to  by  the  best  skill. 

We  have  provided  for  about  one  hundred  more  patients 
at  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute  at  Morganton,  and  minis- 
tered to  by  the  best  skill. 

We  have  provided  for  about  fifty  more  blind  people  at 
the  great  Asylum  in  Raleigh. 

We  have  provided  at  the  Stonewall  Jackson  Training 
School  at  Concord,  for  over  a  hundred  more  boys  who 
were  morally  delinquent  and  on  the  way  to  ruin. 

We  have  provided  for  sixty  crippled  children  at  the 
Orthopedic  Hospital  at  Gastonia,  to  be  ministered  to  by  the 
best  skill. 

We  have  provided  for  about  one  hundred  more  morally 
delinquent  or  imperiled  baby  girls  at  Samarcand. 

We  have  not  established,  but  we  will,  a  refuge  for  the 
poor  little  wrecked  colored  boys. 

We  have  provided  for  over  five  hundred  more  girls  at 
the  Women's  College  in  Greensboro. 

We  have  provided  for  one  hundred  and  forty  more  boys 
at  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering  in 
Raleigh. 

We  have  provided  for  over  five  hundred  more  boys  at  the 
University. 


Public  Addresses  199 

We  have  enlarged  all  the  Normal  Training  Schools,  at 
Cullowhee,  in  Jackson  County;  Appalachian,  in  Boone, 
Watauga  County;  East  Carolina  Training  School,  at  Green- 
ville, Pitt  County;  and  similar  institutions  for  the  colored 
people,  in  Winston-Salem,  Greensboro  and  Elizabeth  City, 
also  the  Indian  Normal  School,  at  Pembroke,  Robeson 
County. 

This  is  incomplete.     I  have  not  told  all. 

All  this  for  an  added  charge  on  the  State  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  per  year — one-half  the 
tax  of  one  corporation  in  the  State;  one-fourth  the  inheri- 
tance tax;  less  than  one-third  the  tax  paid  on  insurance 
premiums.  The  great  mass  of  the  people  will  never  pay 
one  dollar  of  it. 

Five  millions  of  the  bonds  were  to  create  a  loan  fund  to 
save  the  counties  and  towns  from  high  interest  rates  on 
money  to  build  school  houses.  They  are  getting  millions 
at  four  and  one  half  per  cent,  and  no  expense,  instead  of 
paying  a  lawyer  fees,  and  six  or  seven  per  cent  interest. 
This  will  not  cost  the  State  anything. 

This  is  all  except  the  road  bonds. 

We  authorized  fifty  millions  for  roads.  The  people  were 
paying  automobile  tax  anyway.  We  increased  it  some,  not 
much;  put  one  cent  per  gallon  on  gasoline,  and  converted  it 
all  into  an  interest  paying  fund,  and  instead  of  frittering  it 
away  as  it  came  trying  to  build  roads  with  it,  we  are  selling 
the  bonds  and  building  the  finest  system  of  highways  in 
America.  We  did  not  increase  tax  on  anybody  to  do  it 
except  on  the  automobile  owner,  and  on  him  very  little.  We 
simply  applied  sound  business  principles  to  the  situation 
and  behold  the  magic-like  construction  of  the  system. 

We  enlarged  our  welfare  work,  and  under  the  leadership 
of  that  great  North  Carolina  Democratic  woman,  Mrs. 
Clarence  Johnston,  we  are  recognized  as  a  model  for  the 
states. 

We  enlarged  our  program  for  health,  and  increased  our 
war-fare  on  sickness,  suffering  and  death.  There  are  onl}^ 
six  states  in  the  Union  where  a  human  stands  a  chance  to 
live  longer  than  in  North  Carolina.     Under  the  leadershid 


200  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

of  Dr.  Rankin,  the  greatest  health  officer  in  the  United 
States,  we  are  going  to  the  top,  and  but  for  the  poor  colored 
people  we  would  be  there  now.  But  we  are  going,  anyway, 
for  his  department  is  working  wonders  among  the  colored 
people. 

We  have  enlarged  the  program  for  agricultural  experi- 
ment and  extension  work.  We  are  working  wonders  in 
that  great  field. 

We  enacted  an  enlarged  program  for  the  development  of 
the  fish,  oyster  and  sea-food  industry,  and  we  are  pledged 
to  greater  things  in  this  great  work.  We  can  make  this  one 
of  the  great  industries  of  the  State.  We  are  going  to  do  it. 
The  party  platform  promises  it. 

But,  my  fellow  citizens,  I  cannot  tell  it  all.  Time  will 
not  permit.     There  are  many  other  things  to  tell. 

How  have  we  found  the  money  to  do  it  all.^ 

We  adopted  a  new  system  of  taxation,  as  we  were  pledged 
to  do,  and  under  this  system  we  get  the  money  and  reduce 
taxes  upon  the  great  mass  of  the  people,  not  in  dema- 
goguery,  but  in  justice.  We  realized  these  things  had  to  be 
done  if  the  State  was  to  progress.  We  also  realized  that 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  were  paying  all  the  taxes  upon 
their  small  homes,  farm.s  and  other  property,  for  local 
government  and  their  schools,  they  could  stand.  We  knew 
that  ad  valorem,  or  tax  on  property  according  to  its  value, 
was  a  tax  on  the  principal  of  what  people  had;  that  many  of 
them  who  had  a  little  property  yet  had  a  hard  time  to  live; 
that  old  men,  helpless  women  and  children  might  have  a 
little  property,  but  they  were  unable  to  make  money.  We 
knew  that  ad  valorem  taxation  bore  equally  upon  those  who 
could  earn  and  those  who  could  not,  and  that  it  would 
justly  stand  no  more  than  the  counties  and  towns  required, 
so  we  discarded  it  altogether  as  a  source  of  State  revenue, 
and  left  all  tax  on  the  value  of  the  property  to  the  coulities 
and  towns.  Under  the  new  system  we  raise  the  funds  to  run 
the  State  altogether  from  license  taxes  of  various  kinds, 
franchise  taxes,  inheritance  tax,  income,  etc.  We  put  the 
whole  burden  of  running  the  State  government  upon  a  new 
basis.     The  tax  is  light  and  does  not  burden  anybody.     But 


Public  Addresses  201 

the  basis  of  it  all  is  that  the  tax  comes  from  all  the  people 
of  the  State,  according  to  the  business  done  and  the  success 
attained.  It  is  just.  We  are  the  only  Southern  state 
which  does  not  levy  tax  on  the  value  of  property  for  state 
purposes.  We  are  the  only  Southern  state  which  could 
wisely  adopt  our  system,  for  none  of  them  have  the  business 
and  wealth  to  justify  it  without  oppression.  We  were  able 
to  do  it  because  we  are  the  first  state  in  the  Union  in  the 
manufacture  of  tobacco;  the  second  in  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  textiles;  high  up  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture, 
and  in  many  other  lines  a  great  manufacturing  state,  as  well 
as  the  first  per  acre  planted  in  agriculture,  and  the  fifth 
in  the  aggregate  value  of  our  annual  farm  crops,  although 
the  twenty-seventh  in  area  and  the  fourteenth  in  popu- 
lation. 

We  made  all  the  great  necessary  improvements  I  have 
mentioned,  and  yet  for  state  purposes  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  pay  less  tax  than  they  pay  in  any  state  in  the  Union, 
and  yet  we  do  no  injustice  to  any  class. 

We  had  to  adopt  the  new  system  if  we  were  to  perform 
the  high  and  sacred  duties  of  a  great  state.  It  could  not  be 
done  under  the  old. 

I  want  to  congratulate  and  thank  the  great  business 
interests  of  the  State  for  the  loyal  manner  in  which  they 
have  accepted  it.     I  honor  them  for  it. 

When  we  were  having  the  contest  over  it  before  the 
General  Assembly  I  talked  to  a  high  official  of  the  company 
we  knew  would  pay  more  than  any  other  in  the  State.  He 
said  it  would  cost  them  a  great  deal  of  money,  but  he  agreed 
with  me  that  it  was  the  only  way  to  raise  the  necessary 
money  to  run  the  State  without  oppression  of  the  masses, 
and  that  he  was  in  favor  of  doing  it.  I  asked  him  if  he 
would  say  so  to  some  members  of  the  General  Assembly.  He 
said  he  would,  and  he  did.  His  company  paid  more  state 
tax  under  it  last  year  than  every  lawyer,  farmer  and  poli- 
tician in  the  State  combined. 

Under  this  new  system  we  not  only  meet  every  dollar  of 
the  State's  obligation,  under  the  enlarged  program,  with- 
out any  tax  on  the  value  of  property,  but  we  give  one 


202  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

million  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the  common 
school  system,  and  from  this  help  more  than  fifty  counties 
run  their  local  schools. 

We  give  the  old  Confederate  soldiers  a  million  dollars 
a  year,  and  not  one  cent  from  property  tax. 

And  yet  there  are  demagogues  who  complain  at  the 
injustice  to  the  masses  by  the  administration  in  the  matter 
of  taxation.  The  system  is  just,  and  yet  that  the  classes 
who  pay  it  are  big  and  broad  enough  to  do  it  without 
lamentation  and  complaint,  fills  me  with  gratitude  and 
admiration.  It  has  been  administered  without  graft  or 
waste.      True  value  has  been  received  for  every  dollar  expended. 

A  great  many  people  bemoan  the  lack  of  business  methods 
in  the  administration  of  the  State's  affairs,  declaring  so 
often,  "If  we  only  could  dispense  with  politics  and  apply 
business  principles  to  the  State  government,  how  splendid  it 
would  be."  This  sentiment  comes  from  the  unbusiness-like 
habit  of  the  most  business-like,  in  their  private  aifairs, 
not  looking  into  their  State's  government,  and  ascertaining 
the  true  facts.  If  they  would  but  look  into  the  State's 
affairs,  I  am  sure  they  would  find  that  the  State's  business 
was  run  upon  as  sound  business  principles  and  with  less 
overhead,  or  administration  cost  as  any  business  of  similar 
size  and  volume  of  a  private  character  conducted  in  this 
country. 

Aside  from  the  political  duties  of  the  government,  the 
business  of  the  State  is  immense.  Many  entertain  very 
sincerely  the  conviction  that  it  is  attended  to  in  a  very 
unbusiness-like  manner,  simply  because  they  have  never 
exercised  their  citizenship  sufficiently  to  acquaint  them- 
selves, which  could  easily  be  done,  with  any  knowledge  as  to 
how  it  is  conducted.  The  State  operates  its  business 
affairs  largely  through  boards  of  trustees,  or  directors  of 
the  various  institutions  and  departments. 

The  institutions  for  the  insane  of  the  white  race  at 
Morganton  and  Raleigh,  and  for  the  colored  race  at  Golds- 
boro,  the  institution  for  feeble-minded  children  at  Kinston, 
the  institution  for  the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  and  the  many 
other  institutions  for  our  unforunate  and  defective  people, 


Public  Addresses  203 

and  our  institutions  for  higher  learning  have  a  business 
side  of  great  magnitude.  They  are  run  by  boards  of 
trustees,  and  I  venture  the  assertion  that  any  of  them  is 
operated  by  a  board  of  greater  weight  in  the  business  world, 
of  broader  intelligence  and  business  standing,  than  the 
directorate  of  the  largest  private  business  corporation  in  the 
city  of  Charlotte,  or  the  state  of  North  Carolina.  The 
trustees  or  directors  of  the  great  State  institutions  are 
selected  from  the  very  flower  of  the  State's  business  life. 
They  not  only  have  one  or  two  able  men  on  the  boards,  as 
the  board  of  directors  of  most  private  institutions  are  con- 
tent with,  but  the  entire  board  is  men  of  first  class  business 
standing  and  experience. 

The  institutions  for  higher  learning,  the  University,  the 
State  College  for  Women  in  Greensboro,  the  State  College 
of  Agriculture  and  Engineering  in  Raleigh,  are  controlled  on 
their  business  side  by  great  boards  of  trustees,  acting 
through  executive  committees,  finance  committees,  etc.,  in 
an  up-to-date  and  approved  business  way.  I  think  I  could 
successfully  challenge  any  private  corporation  doing  busi- 
ness in  this  State,  railroad,  bank,  trust  company,  cotton  mill, 
tobacco  factory,  or  any  other  enterprise,  to  show  a  board  of 
directors  equal  in  their  entire  personnel  to  the  trustees  of 
any  one  of  these  institutions.  There  are  many  institutions 
not  mentioned  through  which  the  State  expends  large  sums 
of  money,  and  I  invite  the  most  careful  investigation  and 
scrutiny  of  the  personnel  of  these  boards,  and  challenge  the 
business  men  of  this  State  to  show  where  any  private  busi- 
ness is  in  the  hands  of  abler  or  more  upright  men.  They 
serve  practically  without  compensation.  Some  of  them 
are  allowed  their  expenses  and  a  little  per  diem  when  they 
attend  meetings,  but  experience  has  shown  that  a  great 
many  of  them  never  collect  it. 

The  penitentiary  is  a  very  large  business  concern,  and  is 
controlled  by  a  board  of  directors  the  equal  in  business 
sagacity,  experience  and  attained  success  of  the  directorate 
of  any  institution  in  the  State. 

Who  are  the  men  at  the  head  of  these  institutions  through 
which    so   much   of   the   people's    money   is   expended.?     I 


204  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

cannot  name  them  all,  and  I  dislike  very  much  to  appear  to 
make  distinctions  between  these  men,  for  they  are  of  equal 
standing,  but  in  order  that  you  may  have  some  idea  of  them, 
I  want  to  name  a  few: 

On  the  board  of  directors  of  the  asylum  at  Raleigh  we 
have  men  like  Mr.  Jos.  G.  Brown,  president  of  the  Citizens 
National  Bank  at  Raleigh,  Mr.  John  F.  Wily,  president  of 
the  Fidelity  Bank  at  Durham,  Flon.  Walter  L.   Parsons, 
president   of   the  Bank  of  Pee  Dee  at  Rockingham,  Mr. 
Felix  Harvey,  the  great  merchant  and  farmer  at  Kinston, 
Mr.  George  Howard,  manufacturer  and  farmer  of  Tarboro, 
Hon.  L.  R.  Varser,  the  great  lawyer  of  Robeson  County. 
On  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Morganton   Asylum, 
Mr.  John  M.  Scott  of  the  Charlotte  National  Bank  of  this 
city,  Mr.   Sloan  M.   Robinson,  manufacturer  and  business 
man   at  Gastonia,   Mr.   J.   R.   Boyd,   banker,   farmer  and 
business  man  of  Waynesville,  Mr.  C.  E.   Brooks,  banker 
and    business    man    of   Henderson,    Mr.    C.    C.    Cranford, 
manufacturer,  farmer  and  business  man  of  Asheboro,  Mr. 
J.  H.  Giles,  farmer  and  business  man  of  Burke  County, 
Mr.  E.  P.  Wharton,  banker  and  business  man  of  Greensboro. 
I  have  not  mentioned  even  all  of  the  directors  of  these 
institutions,  but  I  mention  these  men  to  show  you  the  type 
of  business  men  who  are  serving  the  State  in   attending 
to  the  business  of  the  State,  which  is  largely  transacted 
through  these  great  boards.     They  are  all  able,  patriotic 
men,  unselfishly  giving  the  best  of  which  they  are  capable 
to   the   management   of   these   great   business   enterprises; 
through  which  the  State  is  taking  care  of  its  unfortunate 
and  defective,  and  helping  to  train  and  educate  the  youth 
of  the  State. 

At  the  penitentiary,  which  has  a  business  side  that  makes 
it  one  of  the  largest  business  institutions  of  the  State,  we 
have  as  chairman  of  the  board,  the  Hon.  James  A.  Leake, 
of  Wadesboro,  with  long  years  of  experience  as  a  banker,  a 
great  farmer  and  merchant,  and  with  him,  Mr.  R.  M. 
Chatham  of  Elkin,  business  man  of  all-round  ability,  Mr. 
A.  L.  Bullock  of  Rowland  in  Robeson  County,  a  great 
ar   mer,  whose  store  there  covers  enough  ground  for  a  man 


Public  Addresses  205 

to  make  a  living  on  if  the  store  was  torn  down,  Mr.  W.  M. 
Sanders  of  Johnston  County,  one  of  the  most  successful 
merchants,  farmers,  and  business  men  of  the  State,  Mr. 
E.  B.  Ficklen,  a  great  tobacco  manufacturer  and  business 
man  of  Greenville. 

In  truth,  every  institution  of  the  State  is  in  the  hands  of 
as  good  a  board  of  directors  as  can  be  found.  I  would  like 
to  call  the  roll  of  all  the  great  men  who  are  serving  North 
Carolina  so  unselfishly  in  transacting  the  great  volume  of 
business  connected  with  the  administration  of  the  State's 
government. 

The  trustees  at  our  institutions  for  higher  learning  are 
of  the  very  flower  of  the  business  life  of  the  State,  but  as 
I  go  about  among  the  people  I  find  some  good  old  citizen 
who  is  uninformed,  who  says,  "That  may  all  be  true,  they 
are  good  men,  but  do  they  act.^"'  Yes,  they  do  act;  they 
are  not  only  attending  to  this  business,  but  they  realize, 
all  of  them,  they  are  serving  humanity,  and  most  of  them 
had  rather  be  on  these  boards  than  hold  any  office  in  the 
State  Vk^hich  can  be  given  them — in  fact,  would  have  no  other 
type  of  office,  and  some  of  them  in  attending  to  the  business 
involved  have  rendered  the  State  a  service  that,  if  known, 
would  be  appreciated  throughout  the  State. 

Your  own  citizen,  Mr.  John  M.  Scott,  the  calm,  calculat- 
ing man  of  business,  who  through  a  long  business  life  seems 
to  have  had  the  capacity  to  make  everything  he  touched 
successful,  rendered  humanity  a  service  that,  in  spite  of  his 
modesty,  I  want  to  make  known  throughout  the  State.  He 
is  on  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Morganton  Asylum,  and 
I  know  that  the  business  life  of  this  city  will  recognize  him  as 
capable  of  helping  to  attend  to  the  business  of  the  institu- 
tion, but  I  wanted  to  Improve  the  medical  staff  at  the  insti- 
tution, and  at  the  other  institutions  for  our  defective  and 
unfortunate  in  the  State.  I  urged  the  State  to  evolve 
some  plan  by  which  these  unfortunate  people  could  have 
the  benefit  of  better  doctors  and  higher  skill  than  it  was 
possible  with  the  funds  at  hand  to  assemble  as  resident 
physicians  In  the  institutions.  I  explained  the  difficulty 
— that  we  would  have  one  able  superintendent,  with  two  or 


206  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

three  young  men  as  assistants,  and  that  we  ought  to  have 
something  better.  Whereupon,  this  hardheaded  banker 
suggested  that  the  way  to  do  it  was  to  get  the  doctors  to 
serve  for  nothing;  that  if  the  State  could  not  employ  them 
to  go  there  and  stay,  we  could  organize  a  large  staff  with 
the  varied  talent  required  and  get  them  to  serve  for  nothing 
a  few  days  in  the  year;  that  a  large  part  of  the  doctors'  time 
was  given  for  nothing  anyway.  I  took  his  idea,  and  we  have 
either  organized,  or  are  about  to  complete  the  organization 
of  a  staff  of  the  finest  medical  talent  and  skill  that  ever 
served  the  unfortunate  of  this  or  any  other  State,  and  all 
without  a  cent  of  cost  in  the  way  of  fees  or  salaries  to  the 
state  of  North  Carolina.  This  man,  with  this  suggestion, 
performed  a  service  to  humanity  that  I  believe  will  live  and 
grow  until  it  will  help  powerfully  in  giving  to  the  afflicted 
of  every  state  in  this  Union  the  benefit  of  the  best  medical 
talent  within  the  borders  of  the  State. 

But  I  am  particularly  addressing  myself  to  the  contention 
that  the  business  of  North  Carolina  is  attended  to  in  as 
business-like  way,  and  by  as  able  business  men  as  the  State 
has  developed,  and  the  overhead  of  administration  charge 
of  all  the  State's  business,  according  to  any  established 
definition  of  what  properly  is  overhead  or  administration 
cost,  will  show  that  ninety-seven  cents  of  every  dollar 
appropriated  by  North  Carolina  to  accomplish  any  of  its 
purposes  of  a  business  character  go  to  the  purpose,  and  only 
three  cents  of  the  dollar  to  the  overhead  or  administration 
cost.  I  challenge  any  big  business  establishment  in  America 
to  show  a  better  record,  or  any  state  in  this  Union. 

The  executive  officers  of  the  State  attend  to  more  business 
and  do  it  well  for  less  pay  than  any  other  men  in  this  State. 
Col.  J.  Bryan  Grimes,  the  Secretary  of  State,  Major  Baxter 
Durham,  the  State  Auditor,  Hon.  B.  R.  Lacy,  the  State 
Treasurer,  Hon.  E.  C.  Brooks,  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  Hon.  J.  S.  Manning,  Attorney  General,  all  get 
34,500  a  year,  and  in  addition  to  these  positions,  the}^  are 
Councilors  of  State.  They  not  only  earn  all  they  get  in  the 
discharge  of  their  own  official  duties,  but  each  and  every 
one  of  them  is  worth  his  salary  as  a  Councilor  of  State. 


Public  Addresses  207 

No  banker  in  North  Carolina  attends  to  more  business 
of  great  importance  than  Treasurer  Lacy.  He  does  it  for 
34,500  a  year,  and  my  own  opinion  is  that  there  is  no  banker 
in  North  CaroHna  who  can  do  it  any  better,  and  yet  some 
of  them  get  five  times  his  salary  in  private  business. 

Attorney  General  Manning  in  private  business,  for  the 
work  he  does  for  North  Carolina,  would  get  more  money 
than  any  lawyer  in  North  Carolina  makes. 

These  men  are  all  Councilors  of  State,  as  I  have  said,  and 
sit  around  the  Governor  and  help  him  weigh  and  solve 
every  problem  or  difficulty  that  confronts  the  State. 

The  other  State  ofiicers  who  are  not  Councilors  of  State 
are  of  the  highest  order  and  type  of  men.  They  are  fre- 
quently called  into  conference  about  the  State's  aifairs,  and  I 
want  to  declare  now  that  whatever  success  I  have  had  in 
meeting  the  heavy  responsibilities  of  my  great  office  is 
largely  due  to  the  generous  help,  the  loyal  support  and 
experience  of  the  patriotic  and  efficient  State  ofiicials  who 
have  counceled  me  in  every  emergency,  and  helped  in  every 
great  concern  of  the  State.  We  have  stood  together,  and 
worked  together,  and  I  declare  that  I  do  not  believe  that 
any  men  do  more  work  for  the  salary  received  than  the 
executive  officers  of  the  state  of  North  Carolina.  I,  of 
course,  exclude  the  Governor,  whose  salary  is  notoriously 
munificent,  and  who  has  so  little  to  do  that  the  health  of  the 
occupant  is  usually  shattered  before  his  term  expires. 

It  is  distressing  to  see  such  widespread  opinion  that  the 
business  of  the  State  is  butchered  by  politics.  This  is  a 
mistake,  a  cruel  and  grievious  mistake.  The  overhead  or 
administration  cost  of  administering  the  business  of  this 
State  everywhere  is  very  light,  and  we  invite  the  closest 
scrutiny  of  every  institution  and  of  every  department. 

Our  great  Insurance  Commissioner  attends  to  a  great 
business  for  the  State.  He  turns  into  the  treasury  of  the 
State  31,000,000  a  year  from  the  business  looked  after  and 
attended  to  by  him.  His  salary  is  34,500  a  year,  and  it  is 
one  of  the  best  investments  North  Carolina  makes.  He  is  a 
great  fire  fighter,  and  through  his  department  gives  greater 


208  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

security  against  the  incendiary  to  property  in  North  Caro- 
Hna  which  can  be  consumed  by  fire. 

I  am  not  going  to  mention  all  the  departments,  but  I 
endorse  and  approve  the  conduct  of  all  of  them.  They  are 
business-like ;  they  are  economically  managed.  The  business 
of  the  State  is  carefully  attended  to,  and  its  interest  jeal- 
ously guarded.  Our  overhead  or  administration  cost  is 
the  lowest  in  the  Republic,  according  to  the  latest  figures 
compiled.  It  does  seem  to  me  that  this  ought  to  satisfy 
the  most  critical. 

The  Highway  Commission,  which  is  building  the  great 
system  of  highways  for  which  the  General  Assembly  provided 
is  composed  of  Mr.  Frank  Page  of  Moore  County,  business 
man  of  high  standing  and  large  interests;  Mr.  J.  Elwood  Cox, 
one  of  the  State's  ablest  bankers  and  an  all-round  business 
man;  Mr.  John  Sprunt  Hill,  a  banker  and  business  man  of 
large  and  varied  interests  and  of  great  ability;  Mr.  William 
A.  Hart,  manufacturer  and  farmer  and  all-round  business 
man;  Mr.  W.  C.  Wilkinson,  president  of  the  Aierchants  and 
Farmers  National  Bank  of  this  city,  banker,  manufacturer 
and,  as  all  of  you  know,  a  man  of  the  highest  business  ex- 
perience and  standing.  I  will  not  mention  them  all,  but 
they  are  as  able  a  body  of  men  as  ever  undertook  to  execute 
a  great  purpose  of  the  people  of  this  or  any  other  state. 
They  are  working  without  compensation,  except  a  small 
per  diem,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Page,  who  receives 
35,000  a  year  for  his  services,  and  he  has  been  offered  more 
than  twice  as  much  to  quite  us  and  go  somewhere  else. 
They  are  doing  more  business  at  less  cost  for  adminstration 
to  the  State  than  is  being  done  by  anybody  in  private 
business  in  the  State. 

The  State  has  expended  a  large  part  of  the  money  provided 
by  the  great  bond  issues  for  the  institutions  of  higher  learn- 
ing, hospitals  for  the  unfortunate,  and  roads  of  the  State. 
The  building  program  is  unprecedented  for  a  State  the 
size  of  ours.  There  has  been  no  charge  of  graft;  there  can 
be  none.  There  has  been  no  charge  of  inefficiency  and 
waste;  there  can  be  none.  The  State  is  receiving  as  much 
value  for  every  dollar  expended  as  the  finest  business  intel- 


Public  Addresses  209 

lect  of  the  State  can  get.  We  invite  the  severest  scrutiny 
of  every  dollar  expended  and  of  the  results  obtained.  The 
program  was  great,  and  its  execution  and  administration  has 
been  equally  great. 

Never  before  in  my  day  has  there  been  such  slight  inter- 
est in  an  approaching  election,  and  yet  I  have  never  known 
such  general  intelligent  interest  in  governmental  affairs  as 
the  people  of  North  Carolina  are  now  taking.  The  unprec- 
edented lack  of  interest  in  the  approaching  election  is  not 
due  to  the  lack  of  interest  by  the  people  in  good  government, 
but  because  there  is  almost  universal  security  felt  that  the 
supremacy  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  State  was  never 
before  so  secure,  or  victory  by  the  Republican  party  less 
promising.  I  cannot  with  sincerity  sound  any  alarm, 
because  I  believe  the  Republicans  are  almost  heartbroken 
with  disappointment  over  Harding's  administration,  and 
I  am  pleased  to  think  they  are  intelligent  enough  to  know 
that  a  successful  assault  upon  the  Democratic  state  admin- 
istration is  impossible. 

But  it  will  be  necessary,  my  fellow  citizens,  for  the 
Democrats  to  arouse  our  voters,  and  do  the  necessary  party 
work  to  get  those  who  are  not  registered  upon  the  regis- 
tration books,  and  to  get  the  voters  out  to  the  election. 
We  do  not  want  a  small  vote  because  the  very  contentment 
which  would  cause  it  would  be  construed  by  our  opponents 
into  condemnation  of  our  great  constructive  and  uplifting 
record.  Experience  in  American  politics  demonstrates  that 
the  satisfied  citizen  has  a  tendency  not  to  vote,  while  the 
dissatisfied  citizen  is  almost  sure  to  find  his  way  to  the 
registration  books  and  the  ballot  box,  and  sound  aloud  his 
disapprobation  of  conditions. 

The  Democrats  of  North  Carolina  ought  to  register  and 
vote  to  show  their  approval  of  the  record  of  accomplish- 
ment of  their  senators  and  representatives  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  and  the  administration,  through  their 
duly  chosen  servants,  of  the  State's  affairs,  I  am  quite  sure 
this  record  is  approved,  but  if  the  Democrats  do  not  register 
and  go  to  the  ballot  box  and  say  so,  it  will  dishearten  the 
delegation  in  Congress  and  the  officers  of  the  State,  and  tend 

14 


210  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

more  powerfully  than  anything  else  to  discourage  the  pro- 
gressive and  constructive  purposes  of  the  people  of  the 
State. 

The  record  of  Senators  Overman  and  Simmons,  heroic 
Major  Bulwinkle  and  the  other  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  Congress  has  never  been  surpassed  in 
intelligence,  fidelity,  distinction  and  wisdom  in  the  entire 
history  of  our  State,  They  have  truly  represented  the 
people  who  have  sent  them  to  Washington.  I  am  not  going 
to  discuss  their  record  with  any  particularity  this  evening 
but  individually  and  collectively,  they  are  a  credit  to  the 
State,  and  ought  to  be  endorsed,  and  the  Congressmen, 
all  of  whom  are  candidates  for  reelection,  ought  to  be  sent 
back  by  increased  majorities  to  continue  their  brilliant 
opposition  to  special  privilege-granting  New  England  Re- 
publicanism as  represented  by  Lodge;  and  to  socialistic, 
order-attacking,  crack-headed,  business-hating,  populistic 
Republicanism,  as  represented  by  LaFollette  and  Hiram 
Johnson;  they  ought  to  be  sent  back  to  continue  their 
brilliant  championship  of  orderly  democracy,  constitutional, 
representative  American  government,  order  and  justice  to 
every  class  and  section,  as  represented  by  Woodrow  Wilson. 

If  the  next  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  is  Democratic,  the  Hon.  Claude  Kitchin 
of  the  second  North  Carolina  Congressional  District,  will  be 
the  Speaker,  and  our  other  Congressmen  will  all  have  high 
and  influential  committe  assignments.  A  vote  against  any 
member  of  the  Democratic  delegation  will  be  a  vote  against 
giving  our  State  power  and  influence  there  greater  than  it 
has  had  since  the  foundation  of  this  Republic.  It  does 
seem  to  me  that  every  Democrat  ought  to  go  to  the 
polls  without  being  importuned,  and  cast  his  vote  for  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Congress  in  his  district,  not  only 
because  he  will  vote  for  a  worthy  and  able  representative, 
but  because  it  will  be  a  vote  to  make  that  great  parlia- 
mentary leader,  democratic  and  patriotic,  Claude  Kitchin, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  second  most 
pov/erful  and  influential  position  under  the  United  States 
government. 


Public  Addresses  211 

MUST  FIGHT  THE  BOLL  WEEVIL  AND  THE  BOLL 
WEEVIL  POLITICIAN 

SPEECH  TO  THE  SAND  HILLS  FAIR  AT  PINEHURST, 

NOVEMBER  2,  1923 

I  want  to  congratulate  the  Sand  Hills  section,  as  it  has 
come  to  be  called,  upon  the  splendid  contribution  it  has 
made  to  the  present  strong  and  hopeful  North  Carolina. 
I  do  not  think  any  section  of  the  State  has  made  a  more 
distinct  and  larger  contribution  in  the  making  of  the  present 
North  Carolina  than  the  splendid  citizenship  of  the  Sand 
Llills  section.  The  improvement  in  agriculture,  as  well  as  in 
horticulture,  in  this  section  for  the  last  ten  years  is  unsur- 
passed by  the  progress  made  in  any  other  section  of  the 
State,  and  you  have  contributed  not  alone  to  the  material 
strengthening  of  the  State,  but  progressive  government  is  as 
strong  through  this  section  as  through  any  other  in  the 
South.  In  the  work  of  the  church  and  the  schools  your 
great  section  has  for  many  years  stood  up  for  the  minister 
and  the  teacher  and  their  great  purposes.  You  have 
played  a  noble  part  in  pushing  North  Carolina  forward 
along  every  line  wise  men  and  women  want  to  see  it  go. 

The  peach  business  is  a  great  and  new  industry.  So 
is  the  berry  business.  But  this  is  not  a  full  story  of  your 
progress.  Your  whole  agriculture  life  is  abreast  of  the  times, 
and  the  whole  spirit  and  thought  of  your  people  makes 
your  great  section  one  of  the  noblest  brigades  in  the  great 
army  of  progress  assaulting  the  camps  of  the  Reactionary  in 
North  Carolina. 

As  Governor  for  (not  of)  all  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
I  want  to  heartily  congratulate  and  thank  you  for  all  you 
have  done  for  your  State. 

^  We  are  going  forward  now  superbly  in  North  Carolina, 
in  spite  of  the  boll  weevil  and  the  boll  weevil  politician. 
I  think  we  have  whipped  both. 

Everywhere  North  Carolina  is  measuring  up  to  the  best 
thought  of  the  day. 


212  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

We  are  upholding  law  and  making  every  man  feel  that 
a  just  government  will  see  that  the  courts  of  law  and  justice, 
not  mobs,  dominate  this  State  and  protect  all  the  citizens  of 
both  high  and  low  degree. 

We  are  fighting  sickness  and  suffering  and  death  with 
great  success.  We  are  taking  unsurpassed  care  of  the  insane 
the  feeble  minded,  the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  the  tubercular, 
the  crippled  children,  the  morally  delinquent  girls  and  boys, 
and  the  defective  and  broken  of  every  class  and  description. 

We  are  educating  the  children  of  the  State  in  more  than 
7,000  schoolhouses  through  the  services  of  more  than 
17,000  teachers  in  a  way  never  approached  before  in  any 
other  state  in  the  South.  Our  associated  high  schools 
graduated  6,500  girls  and  boys  last  year  against  1,500  only 
four  years  before.  We  have  enlarged  our  institutions 
for  higher  learning  from  the  standard  high  schools  up  to 
the  University  of  the  State,  the  State  College  of  Agriculture 
and  Engineering,  and  the  Woman's  College  by  more  than 
doubling  their  capacity  in  the  last  three  years. 

We  are  conserving  at  last  the  State's  great  asset  in  its 
unrivaled  waterways,  and  taking  measures  to  make  our 
oyster  and  sea-food  waters  the  most  productive  in  America, 
and  at  the  same  time,  planning  to  fill  the  streams  of  Central 
and  Western  North  Carolina  full  of  game  and  edible  fish. 

We  are  doing  everything  that  a  modern  scientific  and 
up-to-date  government  can  do  to  help  the  people  of  the 
State  in  their  business  and  in  their  moral  and  intellectual 
development. 

We  are  doing  all  this  under  a  system  of  taxation  the 
most  equitable  and  just  to  be  found  in  the  Republic.  Under 
this  new  system  for  purposes  of  State  government  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  pay  less  tax  than  they  pay  in  any  other 
state  in  the  Union.  The  new  revenue  bill  produces  ample 
revenue  to  meet  the  increased  interest  charges  placed  on  the 
State  by  the  great  program  of  public  improvements,  to 
meet  the  annual  expenses  of  the  State  to  mantain  all  of  our 
great  charitable  and  educational  institutions,  and  to  provide 
sinking  funds  adequate  for  the  redemption  of  the  bonds 
issued  for  permanent  improvements. 


Public  Addresses  213 

Pending  the  collection  of  taxes  each  year,  some  of  which 
cannot  be  collected  until  after  the  full  expiration  of 
the  year,  it  is  necessary  to  borrow  money  from  time  to  time 
or  let  the  State's  bills  go  unpaid.  Some  gentlemen  call  this 
borrowing  a  "deficit."  It  is  not  a  deficit  in  taxes  levied, 
but  simply  the  necessary  and  business-like  conduct  of  the 
State's  affairs.  The  taxes  are  principally  paid  annually, 
while  the  State's  bills  must  be  paid  monthly.  We  cannot 
pay  bills  monthly  and  wait  to  the  end  of  the  year  to  get  the 
taxes. 

We  did  not  have  for  the  last  two  years  a  deficit  in  the 
amount  of  taxes  levied  upon  the  people  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  the  State,  but  a  surplus  by  actual  collections  of 
3834,028.08.  We  did  borrow  money  to  meet  the  bills  of  the 
State  .and  take  care  of  its  unfortunates,  etc.,  but  ample 
taxes  had  already  been  levied  to  meet  all  this  which  have 
since  been  collected. 

For  this  year  and  next  certain  gentlemen  prophesy  there 
will  be  a  deficit.  This  cannot  be  definitely  known  until 
after  we  have  collected  the  taxes,  but  the  intelligence  and 
courage  of  our  people  having  thrashed  the  boll  weevil  and 
done  an  unprecedented  business  in  every  line  this  year,  I  am 
satisfied  we  are  going  to  thrash  the  deficit  and  boll  weevil 
politician  by  being  able  to  show,  when  the  taxes  for  this 
year  have  been  collected,  a  comfortable  surplus  in  revenue 
levied  for  the  year  and  collected  over  the  appropriations 
and  expenses. 

Some  gentlemen  declare  we  have  expended  too  much 
money.  I  dare  them  to  specify  where.  Have  we  expended 
too  much  upon  God's  defective  and  afflicted.^  If  so,  name 
the  institution  at  which  we  have  expended  it. 

Did  we  expend  too  much  on  the  Woman's  College  at 
-Greensboro,  or  the  other  institutions  of  higher  learning  in 
the  State  .f"  If  so,  boldly  stand  forth  and  charge  it.  These 
gentlemen  are  trying  to  fill  the  State  with  insinuation  and 
innuendo  that  we  have  been  extravagant  and  wasted  money. 
I  dare  them  to  specify  and  particularize. 


214  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Are  we  expending  too  much  upon  the  crippled  children 
at  the  orthopedic  hospital?  It  is  run  under  a  great  board 
of  business  men,  and  with  economy  and  success. 

Are  we  expending  too  much  at  the  institution  for  feeble- 
minded children  at  Kinston?  We  have  doubled  its  capacity, 
and  yet  there  are  at  least  1,500  begging  for  admittance 
there  which  we  cannot  take. 

Are  we  expending  too  much  at  the  insane  asylums  at 
Raleigh,  Morganton,  and  Goldsboro.''  We  have  made  room 
for  nearly  2,000  more  than  when  I  was  inaugurated  Gover- 
nor and  yet  there  is  not  a  vacant  bed  in  any  of  them,  and 
until  the  new  buildings  now  being  erected  are  finished, 
there  will  be  several  hundred  insane  people  in  the  State 
that  cannot  be  taken  in. 

Are  we  expending  too  much  on  morally  delinquent  and 
lost  boys  at  the  Stonewall  Jackson  Training  School.^  Or 
the  lost  and  wrecked  girls  at  Samarcand.'^  If  so,  let  the 
deficit  politician  stand  up  and  specify. 

Where  is  the  money  being  wasted  .f'  We  are  doing  the 
duty  at  last  of  a  great  and  enlightened  State. 

The  appropriations  of  the  last  two  sessions  of  the  General 
Assembly  were  made  by  the  practically  unanimous  vote  of 
both  parties  and  both  houses.  They  thought  they  levied 
enough  taxes  to  meet  the  bills,  and  they  did,  but  of  course 
from  time  to  time,  pending  collection  of  the  taxes  levied, 
there  will  not  be  money  on  hand  to  meet  the  bills,  and  sound 
business  principles  suggest  that  the  State  borrow  the  money 
and  pay  cash,  so  they  will  get  good  prices,  etc. 

I  do  not  yield  to  any  gentlemen  in  devotion  to  the  priciple 
of  government  that  the  maintenance  and  current  expenses 
of  the  State  should  always  be  met  by  a  sufficient  levy  of 
taxes,  but  it  is  no  violation  of  this  principle,  pending  the 
collection  of  this  tax,  to  borrow  money  to  meet  promptly 
the  State's  obligations,  rather  than  to  make  people  with 
whom  it  does  business  wait  for  the  intermittent  and  annual 
collection  of  taxes. 

Some  of  the  newspapers  of  the  State  have  stated  that 
under  a  cash  system  of  keeping  books,  the  State  was  in  debt 
the  31st  of  last  December  something  over  five  millions  of 


Public  Addresses  215 

dollars.  This  is  not  correct.  There  is  no  system  of  keeping 
books,  cash,  or  otherwise,  which  excludes  credit  for  bills 
receivable  or  other  assets. 

Some  gentlemen  seem  to  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  cash  system  of  bookkeeping  means  nothing  but  a  cash 
book.  This  is  not  correct.  The  cash  book  only  gives  one 
item  in  a  financial  statement  of  any  business.  It  must 
be  used  in  connection  with  a  statement  of  assets,  bills 
receivable  and  bills  payable,  etc.  It  is  perfectly  ridiculous, 
and  I  am  sure  the  most  ordinary  business  man  in  North 
Carolina  will  understand  the  absurdity  in  claiming  that  a 
mere  statement  of  the  cash  on  hand  or  borrowed  is  a  com- 
plete financial  statement  of  any  business. 

These  papers  have  tried  to  spread  the  thought  in  the 
State  that  under  a  cash  system  of  keeping  books  the  State 
is  in  debt  millions  of  dollars,  but  that  by  a  change  to  the 
accrual  system  of  keeping  books,  our  face  is  saved,  and  the 
deficit  turned  into  a  surplus.  This  comes  from  mere  igno- 
rance, for  any  sensible  man  knows  the  cash  system  and 
accrual  system  come  to  the  same  result,  if  correctly  kept. 
Under  the  cash  system  we  would  get  the  cash  item  fixed, 
whether  a  deficit  or  a  surplus,  and  then  take  into  account 
all  money  due  and  all  money  payable  to  the  State. 

Under  the  cash  system  of  keeping  books,  if  credited  with 
bills  receivable,  we  had  a  surplus  as  of  December  31,  1922, 
as  shown  by  actual  collections  since  that  day  of  ^834,028.08. 
Under  the  accrual  system  of  bookkeeping  we  simply  credit 
monthly  the  Budget  Commission's  estimate  of  taxes  for 
the  year  and  then  making  final  correction  when  returns 
were  in,  and  it  was  known  whether  the  estimate  had  been 
exceeded  or  whether  there  was  a  shortage  in  the  estimate. 

The  accrual  system  of  keeping  accounts  is  not  a  credit 
system  at  all,  but  simply  estimates  and  credits  each  month's 
part  of  the  estimated  revenue  of  the  State,  making  the  final 
corrections  at  the  end  of  the  account.  The  cash  system 
goes  on  to  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  and  then  by  a  proper 
accounting  for  bills  receivable  and  bills  payable  arrives  at 
exactly  the  same  result. 


216  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

We  are  not  making  any  effort  to  put  this  State's  current 
and  annual  expenses  upon  a  credit  basis.  Adopting  the 
accrual  system  of  keeping  books  does  not  do  this.  It 
has  no  effect  whatever  upon  the  question  of  borrowing  or  not 
borrowing  money.  If  we  would  levy  taxes  payable  by  the 
month,  we  could  pay  the  State's  bills  monthly,  without 
borrowing  money,  but  just  as  long  as  the  citizen  pays  an 
annual  tax,  and  the  State  meets  its  bills  monthly,  there 
w^ill  be  the  necessity  for  borrowing  until  the  year's  taxes 
come  in.  The  system  of  keeping  books  whether  accrual  or 
cash  system,  has  no  effect  whatever  on  it.  The  accrual 
system  simply  writes  into  the  account  monthly  the  estimated 
revenue  in  order  that  it  may  be  known  whether  or  not 
expenses  are  exceeding  the  legislative  expectation  of  revenue, 
and  this  is  all  the  good  the  accrual  system  of  keeping  books 
does. 

Finally  if  collections  are  under  the  estimate,  the  books 
will  have  to  note  this  fact;  if  over  expectations,  this  will 
have  to  be  noted,  and  the  account  finally  comes  to  exactly 
the  same  thing  as  the  cash  system,  accompainied  by  a 
consideration  of  bills  payable  and  bills  receivable. 

The  effort  being  made  in  this  State  to  protect  those  who 
have  made  the  startling  misrepresentation  of  the  State's 
financial  condition  that  we  had  run  five  millions  of  dollars 
behind  in  two  years  and  in  two  years  more  would  be  ten 
millions  of  dollars  behind,  by  creating  the  impression  we 
have  covered  it  up  by  a  change  in  the  principles  of  book- 
keeping, is  far-fetched  and  ridiculous.  It  does  not  make  any 
difference  what  system  of  bookkeeping  is  used,  there  is  none 
recognized  by  a  civilized  people  under  which  this  State  can 
be  shown  to  have  failed  two  years  ago  by  five  millions  of 
dollars  to  levy  the  necessary  taxes  to  meet  the  interest 
charges  and  current  expenses  of  the  State.  Of  course  I  can- 
not tell  until  the  taxes  under  the  revenue  bill  for  this  year 
and  next  have  been  collected  what  the  result  will  be,  but  I 
am  confident  that  we  will  have  at  least  some  surplus. 

It  is  impossible  for  any  General  Assembly  to  be  exact 
in  writing  a  revenue  bill.  There  never  was  one  written 
which  did  not  result  in  either  a  surplus  or  a  deficit.     States- 


Public  Addresses  217 

men  differ  as  to  which  is  most  to  be  avoided,  a  small  surplus 
or  a  small  deficit,  but  certainly  it  is  desirable  that  it  should 
not  be  too  much  either  way. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1921  levied  ample  taxes  to  take 
care  of  the  enlarged  program  of  progress.  The  last  General 
Assembly  did  not  raise  taxes  because  they  thought  the 
same  rates  of  the  two  preceding  years  would  raise  revenue  to 
meet  expenses  and  interest  charges  for  this  year  and  next. 
I  am  satisfied  the  results  will  show  they  were  correct.  The 
claim  that  there  will  be  a  deficit  of  ten  millions  of  dollars 
is  utterly  ridiculous  and  its  circulation  an  outrageous  in- 
justice to  the  State,  but  until  the  taxes  are  collected,  we  will 
be  temporarily  borrowing  money  to  meet  the  State's  bills. 
The  items  of  borrowed  money  simply  take  the  place  of  the 
bills  paid  and  cut  absolutely  no  figure  whatever  in  whether 
there  will  be  a  final  deficit  in  the  taxes  for  any  year. 

I  want  to  declare  to  the  progressive  Republicans  and 
Democrats  of  North  Carolina  who  in  the  last  two  sessions 
of  the  General  Assembly  enacted  the  program  of  progress 
into  law,  that  the  revenues  of  the  State  are  all  right;  that 
there  was  no  deficit  for  the  first  two  years  and  that  all  indi- 
cations promise  a  good  surplus  for  the  next  two.  I  believe 
the  income  tax  for  next  year  will  aggregate  five  millions  of 
dollars.     We  have  collected  about  33,800,000  for  last  year. 

The  road  law  is  yielding  greatly  above  expectations.  We 
have  already  collected  for  four  months  of  this  year 
34,700,800,  about  3500,000  more  than  for  the  whole  of  last 
year.  The  indications  are  that  the  road  law  will  yield 
38,000,000;  it  will  certainly  go  to  37,000,000.  We  only 
expected  36,000,000  when  we  enacted  it. 

The  revenue  from  the  road  law  on  automobiles,  trucks 
and  gasoline  will  pay  the  interest  on  the  whole  365,000,000 
of  bonds,  give  two  millions  to  the  upkeep  of  the  roads,  and 
put  around  32,000,000  into  the  sinking  fund  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  bonds. 

Everything,  absolutely  everything,  is  turning  out  better 
than  we  hoped  for.  I  want  the  Progressives  of  both 
parties  in  the  State  to  make  ready  for  the  oncoming  battle 
with  those  who  have  tried  in  every  way  possible  to  embar- 


218  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

ras,  impede  and  beat  the  State  back  in  its  grand  march 
forward. 

We  must  fight. 

It  is  not  a  question  of  electing  a  Governor  alone,  but 
North  Carolina's  public  affairs  must  not  fall  into  the  hands 
of  that  set  of  politicians  who  have  done  all  they  could  to 
destroy  the  State's  credit  and  keep  it  in  the  mud  and 
generally  behind  the  times  of  the  great  enlightened  day  in 
which  we  live. 

Progressive  Republicans  and  Democrats  were  both 
united  in  putting  the  program  of  progress  through  in  the 
last  two  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly.  We  are  vic- 
torious everywhere.  Let  us  press  on  with  force  into  the 
primary  of  our  political  party  next  time,  and  fight  the  Re- 
actionary crowd  to  a  finish. 

I  hope  devoutly  that  both  parties  in  the  State  will  be 
dominated  by  the  Progressives  and  that  each  will  write 
platforms  endorsing  what  their  members  in  the  last  two 
sessions  of  the  General  Assembly  did  for  the  glory  and  up- 
building of  this  State. 

I  do  believe  we  have  the  strongest,  most  hopeful  and 
happy  democracy  in  this  great  Republic  of  democracies, 
^  and  we  must  fight  to  prevent  the  boll  weevil  and  the  boll 
weevil  politician  from  undermining  and  destroying  the 
accompHshments  which  have  quickly  made  us  the  wonder 
of  the  whole  Republic. 

STATE  PRIDE  AND  A  FINER  FIGHTING  SPIRIT 
FOR  NORTH  CAROLINA 

SPEECH    DELIVERED    AT   THE    DEDICATION    OF    REYNOLDS 
AUDITORIUM,   WINSTON-SALEM, 

MAY  8,  1924 

This  noble  memorial  is  the  result  of  the  great  life  of 
Mr.  R.  J.  Reynolds  and  the  beautiful  conception  of  his 
lovely  wife  of  how  to  express  appropriately  her  estimate  of 
him.     It  is  truly  a  noble  monument,  and  an  honor  to  the 


Public  Addresses  219 

life  of  the  great  man  whose  Hfe  it  commemorates,  as  well 
as  the  noble  wife  who  caused  it   to  be  constructed. 

I  hope  the  example  set  by  Mrs.  Johnson  will  be  followed 
by  others  in  the  erection  of  monumental  expressions  of 
their  love,  admiration  and  loss  in  the  death  of  loved  ones; 
and  that  we  will  have  less  marble  and  granite  vanity  and 
selfishness,  and  more  love  and  social  service  in  our  monu- 
ment building. 

It  is  indeed  most  appropriate  as  a  monument  to  Mr.  R.  J. 
Reynolds  and  as  an  expression  of  his  practical  and  serviceable 
life.  We  are  coming  more  and  more  to  appreciate  the  men 
'"who  by  genius  for  organization  and  business  create  or 
\  gather  by  honorable  effort  in  trade  the  wealth  necessary  to 
accomplish  the  vision  of  the  statesman,  or  to  give  life  and 
reality  to  the  golden  words  of  the  orator  or  poet. 

Mr.  Reynolds  made  for  North  Carolina  millions  of  the 
money  without  which  the  present  progressive  North  Caro- 
lina government  would  be  an  impossibility.  The  great 
business  which  he  organized  and  made  successful  pays  more 
tax  to  support  the  State  government  than  all  the  individual 
taxpayers  in  the  State,  and  every  activity  of  the  State 
government  would  be  lowered  but  for  it. 

Aycock's  eloquence  in  the  cause  of  education  will  live 
forever,  but  it  could  not  have  builded  the  present  great 
school  system  if  North  Carolina's  great  captains  of  industry 
had  not  created  and  brought  to  the  State  great  wealth  to 
help  the  farmer  pay  the  cost. 

Mr.  Reynolds  did  not  use  his  mighty  genius  to  create 
wealth  for  selfish  purposes  alone.  He  had  greater  aspira- 
tion and  nobler  inspiration.  He  loved  the  South.  He 
loved  North  Carolina.  He  wanted  to  see  it  great  and 
i  powerful  and  good.  He  had  sense  enough  to  know  we  had 
'  to  make  money  if  we  progressed.  He  succeeded,  and  his 
success  is  one  of  the  chief  contributions  in  the  making  of 
the  present  strong  and  hopeful  North  Carolina. 

The  State  is  now  performing  the  noble  functions  of  a 
liberal  and  enlightened  State  in  as  full  mxeasure  as  any 
state  in  the  Union.  The  cost  to  the  people  is  very  low 
compared  to  governments  in  other  states,  because  of  our 


220  Papers  of  Cameron  Morriso 


N 


fgreat  investment  in  industrial  enterprise.  Because  of  this 
jwe  do  not  levy  any  tax  on  the  value  of  property  for  State 
[purposes.  We  are  the  only  State  in  the  South  or  West 
I  which  does  not.  And  yet  we  are  doing  the  greatest  and 
/  most  progressive  things  through  the  State  ever  attempted 
I  by  any  state  of  like  population. 

We  have  invested  more  money  in  the  last  three  years 
in  permanent  improvements  at  our  institutions  for  higher 
learning  and  for  our  defective  and  unfortunate  people  than 
had  been  invested  from  the  foundation  of  our  State. 

We  are  doing  many  great  things.  Time  will  not  permit 
particularity. 

It  is  not  due  to  the  eloquence  of  orators  or  the  states- 
manship of  anybody.  It  is  due  to  the  fact  that  North 
Carolina  is  no  longer  poor  and  Aveak.  We  are  rich  and 
strong  and  able  to  go  forward. 

/^  What  orator,   poet  or  statesman  did   more   to  bring  it 
'  about  than  the  man  who  created  the  business  which  sends 
its  products  into  every  land  under  the  sun  and  brings  back 
profit  for  the  State.?     Not  one. 

North  Carolina  must  progress.  It  will  progress  as  long 
as  it  appreciates  the  life  and  service  to  it  of  men  like  R.  J. 
Reynolds. 

May  I,  in  conclusion,  appeal  for  a  greater  love  for  North 
Carolina  ? 

We  want  more  State  pride  and  a  finer  fighting  spirit  for 
the  old  State.  "Witlings  no  longer  defame  us."  We  have 
taken  that  line  out  of  "The  Old  North  State."  Let  us  press 
forward  along  every  line. 

The  little  personal  politician  must  die.  The  mean, 
scurrilous  state-stabbing  editor  must  go.  North  Carolina  is 
pressing  to  the  front  by  the  united  eiforts  of  her  patriotic 
sons  and  daughters. 

We  will  graduate  at  our  high  schools  this  year  a  grand 
army  of  eight  thousand  girls  and  boys  against  only  sixteen 
hundred  just  six  years  ago.  The  graduates  at  our  Univer- 
sity and  other  colleges  will  double  those  of  six  years  ago. 
We  are  going  on.  Winston-Salem  must  lead  the  way.  The 
spirit  of  R.  J.  Reynolds  will  inspire  you  to  greater  efforts. 


Public  Addresses  221 

I  hope  this  noble  auditorium  will  be  the  scene  of  the 
graduation  of  an  ever  increasing  annual  class,  who  will  go 
forth  to  fight  for  a  greater  and  stronger  North  Carolina. 
To  honor  the  memory  of  him  to  whom  this  great  auditorium 
was  constructed,  ought  to  give  courage  and  high  resolve; 
and  the  memory  of  her  by  whom  it  was  constructed  ought  to 
give  gentleness,  graciousness  and  love  of  the  beautiful  to 
every  class  graduating  here. 

As  governor  for  all  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  and  as 
ex  officio  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the 
State,  I  thank  Mrs.  Johnston  for  this  generous  and  beauti- 
ful contribution  to  the  school  property  of  the  State,  and 
assure  her  of  the  State's  appreciation,  not  only  for  the  prop- 
erty and  its  architectural  beauty,  but  for  the  sentiment 
which  inspired  the  gift  and  that  it  is  in  honor  of  one  who 
did  so  much  for  a  greater  North  Carolina. 


STATEMENTS  AND  INTERVIEWS 
FOR  THE  PRESS 


STATEMENTS  AND  INTERVIEWS 
FOR  THE  PRESS 

JULY  16,  1921 

The  Council  of  State  unanimously  gave  their  consent  this 
morning  for  me  to  call  an  extraordinary  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  to  assemble  on  Tuesday,  the  sixth  day  of 
December  next. 

It  was  with  very  great  reluctance,  and  after  the  most 
careful  consideration,  that  we  reached  the  conclusion  that  an 
extraordinary  session  of  the  General  Assembly  could  not  be 
avoided  without  great  injury  to  the  State,  and  to  the  towns 
and  cities  of  the  State.  I  had  very  earnestly  hoped  to  the 
contrary,  but  the  statements  from  many  towns  and  cities 
of  the  State  disclosed  the  fact  that  most  of  them  are  already 
seriously  hampered,  and  cannot  hope  to  go  for  two  more 
years  under  the  present  authority  to  borrow  money  and 
levy  taxes. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1919,  which  enacted  the 
revaluation  legislation,  provided  that  the  towns  and  cities 
of  the  State  could  not  levy  in  the  aggregate  more  than  ten 
per  cent  more  taxes  than  was  levied  in  1918.  The  towns  and 
cities  of  the  State  had  looked  forward  to  an  increase  in 
their  revenues  from  the  usual  revaluation  made  every  four 
years  for  many  years.  The  limitations  placed  by  the  General 
Assembly  upon  them  which  forbade  their  collecting  more 
than  ten  per  cent  more  than  in  1918  denied  the  towns  and 
cities  of  the  State  the  usual  increase  in  their  revenues, 
which  had  taken  place  at  each  four  years  period  for  many 
years. 

If  the  revaluation  bill  had  never  been  passed,  and  the 
property  had  been  valued  in  the  old  way,  the  towns  and 
cities  of  the  State  would  have  had  their  revenues  increased 
much  more  than  was  done  under  the  revaluation  with  the  ten 
per  cent  limit.  It  was  an  unusual  limitation  upon  the  right 
of  local  self-government  in  the  towns  and  cities.  The 
Municipal  Finance  Act  passed  at  this  same  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  restricted  and  changed  the  old  law  with 


226  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

reference  to  the  right  of  towns  and  cities  to  borrow  money 
for  necessary  purposes.  The  towns  and  cities,  in  conse- 
quence of  this,  were  very  much  hampered  for  two  years.  It 
was  generally  expected  when  the  General  Assembly  met  In 
1921  that  this  limitation  of  ten  per  cent  In  excess  of  the 
revenues  of  1918  would  be  removed,  and  the  Municipal 
Finance  Act  did  remove  It,  and  gave  the  towns  and  cities  a 
somewhat  more  liberal  right  to  govern  themselves. 

Through  an  error  or  an  oversight  of  a  clerk,  the  Municipal 
Finance  Act  was  not  passed  In  the  manner  required  by  the 
Constitution,  and  was  held  Invalid  by  the  Supreme  Court. 
The  towns  and  cities,  therefore,  have  no  power  to  levy  any 
tax  except  an  amount  which  In  the  aggregate  will  not  exceed 
ten  per  cent  of  the  amount  levied  In  the  year  1918.  The 
towns  and  cities  of  the  State  have  all  been  growing,  and  we 
do  not  believe  the  town  and  city  governments  in  the  State 
can  be  operated  from  now  until  the  next  general  meeting  of 
the  General  Assembly  without  serious  embarrassment. 

The  General  Assembly  will  not  assemble  to  order  the 
towns  and  cities  of  the  State  to  put  an  additional  taxation 
upon  the  citizens  of  such  towns  and  cities,  but  simply  to 
give  the  towns  and  cities  the  right  to  tax  themselves  If 
they  see  fit  through  their  proper  officers  to  do  so,  and  to 
authorize  them  to  borrow  money  within  certain  limitations 
when  they  deem  It  to  the  Interest  of  the  towns  and  cities  to 
do  so. 

Another  emergency  grows  out  of  a  deficit  of  about 
3700,000  in  the  school  funds  of  the  State  for  the  year  ending 
June  30  of  this  year.  The  General  Assembly  of  1919 
provided  that  the  State  should  pay  the  expenses  of  three 
months  of  the  six  months  common  schools,  and  the  counties 
for  the  other  three.  The  tax  levied  by  the  regular  session 
as  amended  by  the  special  session  of  1920,  raised  the  amount 
of  money  which  was  required  according  to  the  estimate 
of  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  and  the  Board 
of  Education,  but  the  schools  cost  seven  or  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars  more  money  than  the  estimate.  The 
fact  of  this  deficit  was  not  brought  to  the  attention  of  the 
Budget  Commission,  nor  was  it  brought  to  my  attention, 


Statements  and  Interviews  227 

nor  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1921.  It 
was  brought  to  my  attention  only  some  three  weeks  ago. 
When  the  General  Assembly  of  1921  was  in  session,  the 
school  year  had  not  ended,  and  the  school  authorities  were 
unaware,  and  did  not  foresee,  the  deficit. 

There  is  no  provision  in  the  law  under  which  the  Treas- 
urer of  the  State  can  pay  or  borrow  3^00,000  to  make  good 
the  deficit.  Some  of  it  has  been  advanced  by  the  counties, 
expecting  it  to  be  refunded  at  the  close  of  the  school  year 
by  the  State.  Some  of  it  has  not  yet  been  paid,  and  in  a 
few  counties  the  teachers  are  unpaid.  It  would  be  a  positive 
wrong  for  the  State  to  fail  to  meet  this  obligation  earlier 
than  it  could  be  done  if  we  waited  until  the  next  regular 
session  of  the  General  Assembly. 

We  have  decided  to  advise  the  various  county  authorities 
to  make  provision  to  carry  the  State's  unpaid  part  in  their 
county  until  the  extraordinary  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  can  meet  and  provide  for  its  payment.  We  do 
not  think  any  serious  harm  can  come  to  the  counties  by 
being  forced  to  wait  until  December,  but  we  do  think  it 
would  be  almost  impossible  for  many  of  them  to  carry  the 
indebtedness  through  another  year,  and  meet  their  current 
obligations  for  schools  and  other  purposes. 

The  reasons  for  the  call  of  this  extraordinary  session  will 
be  set  forth  with  formal  precision  as  required  by  the  Con- 
stitution, when  I  issue  the  formal  call,  which  will  be  done 
in  due  time. 

We  desire  no  change  in  the  legislation  enacted  for  this 
year  and  next  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  State  govern- 
ment, and  to  meet  the  constructive  program  adopted  by  the 
General  Assembly.  We  not  only  do  not  anticipate  any 
deficit,  but  time  has  confirmed  my  judgment  that  the  last 
General  Assembly  adopted  a  program  of  taxation  just  and 
wise.  The  policy  of  making  the  school  system  of  the  State 
partially  a  county  system  did  not  work  well,  and  the  last 
General  Assembly  relegated  the  whole  matter  to  the  coun- 
ties, and  ceased  the  experiment  of  making  it  partially  a 
State  system. 


228  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

The  fear  being  expressed  in  a  portion  of  the  press  of  the 
State  that  the  General  Assembly  will  have  to  convene  to 
provide  for  carrying  on  the  schools  for  the  coming  years  is, 
of  course,  unfounded,  because  the  counties  hereafter  will 
have  the  entire  school  taxation,  except  a  few  hundred 
thousand  dollars  appropriated  from  income,  inheritance, 
license  and  other  taxes,  by  the  State  for  the  purpose  of 
helping  the  weak  counties.  We  have  gone  back  to  the  old 
policy  in  raising  the  revenue  for  our  schools.  I  earnestly 
contended  for  this  policy  before  the  General  Assembly,  and 
it  met  with  Dr.  Brooks's  entire  approbation.  There  will 
be  no  trouble  with  the  revenues  for  school  purposes  in  the 
future,  because  the  State  levies  no  property  tax  whatever 
in  North  Carolina,  and  gives  to  the  counties  all  the  power 
contained  in  the  organic  law  to  raise  revenue  through  ad 
valorem  taxation. 

The  rumors  abroad  in  the  State  that  there  is  necessity  for 
any  legislation  with  reference  to  the  program  of  the  last 
General  Assembly  are  utterly  unfounded.  We  do  not 
want  the  right  to  sell  the  bonds  of  this  State  at  a  higher 
rate  than  five  per  cent,  and  until  the  money  market  is  such 
that  we  can  sell  the  bonds  at  this  price,  we  will  do  as  the 
General  Assembly  ordered  us  to  do,  borrow  short  term  money 
at  the  lowest  rate  of  interest  obtainable.  We  will  have  no 
trouble  getting  all  the  money  we  need  in  the  meantime  to 
carry  out  the  State's  program.  We  have  never  paid  over 
six  per  cent  for  any  money  yet,  and  hope  we  will  not  have  to. 
If  it  gets  too  high,  and  we  cannot  go  forward  with  our  pro- 
gram without  paying  unreasonable  rates  of  interest  or  sell- 
ing long  term  bonds  at  a  higher  rate  of  interest  than  five 
per  cent,  we  will  stop  the  constructive  program,  and  wait 
until  we  can. 


Statements  and  Interviews  229 

HARRIS'S  ELECTROCUTION^ 

OCTOBER  20,  1921 

It  is  untrue  that  the  Baptists  in  North  Carolina  have 
made  any  threats  against  me,  in  the  event  I  commute  the 
sentence  of  Harris. 

It  is  untrue  that  Mr.  J.  E.  Swain  made  any  effort  to 
influence  me  in  the  matter. 

It  is  untrue  that  I  have  a  contingent  fee  in  any  law  suit 
pending  before  Mr.  J.  E.  Swain  or  elsewhere. 

In  the  case  of  the  Hardaway  Construction  Company 
versus  one  of  Mr.  Duke's  power  companies,  I  was  paid 
fully  for  all  I  did  for  Hardaway,  and  I  stated  in  open 
court  a  few  days  before  I  was  sworn  in  as  Governor  that  my 
connection  with  that  litigation  or  any  other  ended  with  my 
inauguration  as  Governor. 

The  murder  of  Mr.  Monnish  was  an  assassination. 

There  can  be  no  possible  controversy  that  the  crime 
was  murder  in  the  first  degree,  if  the  perpetrator  had  mental 
responsibility. 

The  jury  and  the  court  tried  this  question.  They  con- 
victed the  prisoner.  He  has  been  here  in  the  penitentiary 
for  some  time.  No  man  claims  he  is  now  insane.  Since  his 
trial  he  has  been  sane. 

The  verdict  of  the  jury  seems  to  me  to  have  been  the 
only  possible  one. 

The  Supreme  Court  refused  a  new  trial. 

I  gave  the  able  attorneys  who  represented  Mr.  Harris 
as  courteous  hearing  as  I  have  manners  to  give.  But  I  did 
notify  them  that  with  me  the  presumption  was  that  the 
court  had  done  the  right  thing. 

I  heard  Mrs.  Harris  and  her  daughter.  I  heard  Miss 
Harris  and  the  son,  Mr.  Paul  Harris,  today. 

Telegrams  and  letters  have  been  pouring  in  to  me.  A 
regular  organized  effort  to  have  it  done  is  known  to  me. 

I  deny  that  I  have  any  feeling  in  the  matter  whatever. 
I  simply  do  not  believe  I  should  interfere  with  the  judg- 

1  This  man,  J.  T.  Harris,  was  convicted  of  the  charge  of  killing  F.  W.  Monnish. 


230  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

merit  of  the  court  for  any  reason  brought  before  me.  I  will 
not  enter  into  controversy  about  it  with  anybody.  I 
believe  in  upholding  the  dignity  of  our  courts  and  the  law 
of  the  land. 

My  interpretation  of  the  pardon  power,  vested  in  me  by 
the  Constitution,  is  not  such  that  I  can  substitute  my  will 
for  the  law. 

I  think  that  the  crime  was  an  awful  murder  and  that  the 
prisoner  was  not  only  duly  convicted  in  the  courts,  but  he 
was  guilty  and  ought  to  have  been  convicted. 

I  presume  the  courts  come  to  just  judgments,  and  the 
burden  is  upon  those  who  petition  me  to  change  them  to 
satisfy  me  that  I  ought  to.  This  has  not  been  done  in  the 
Harris  case. 


THE  CROP  CENSUS 

MAY  4,  1922 

The  crop  acreage  data  collected  during  May  by  the  tax 
listers  in  compliance  with  Chapter  201  (page  498),  the 
Public  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  1921,  is  of  vital  importance 
to  the  farmers  of  the  State,  and  the  efforts  of  the  tax  listers 
to  secure  this  information  should  receive  the  vigorous 
cooperation  of  every  farm  owner. 

The  proper  analysis  of  the  tabulated  county  and  State 
figures  tends  to  stabilize  the  market,  and  helps  to  save  the 
farmer  from  losses  that  otherwise  might  result  from  a  manip- 
ulation of  the  market  by  speculative  interests. 

Although  this  acreage  data  is  collected  each  year  by  the 
tax  listers  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  any  increase  in  taxation. 
An  annual  crop  acreage  census  is  a  forward  looking,  pro- 
gressive movement,  that  bears  the  same  relation  to  agricul- 
ture as  an  industry,  that  an  inventory  does  to  other  forms  of 
business. 


Statements  and  Interviews  231 

STATE  TROOPS  TO  ROCKY  MOUNT 

JULY  17,  1922 

The  Sheriffs  of  Nash  and  Edgecombe  counties,  and  the 
Mayor  of  Rocky  Mount  have  appHed  to  me,  for  reasons 
set  forth  in  a  written  paper  filed,  to  send  troops  to  the 
town  of  Rocky  Mount  to  uphold  the  law.  These  officers 
state  that  the  situation  is  such  that  the  forces  at  their 
command  are  inadequate  to  cope  with  the  situation. 

I  am  satisfied,  as  the  situation  now  stands,  that  dis- 
order and  threat  of  violence  of  such  character  as  the  officers 
state,  exists,  and  I  would  order  troops  to  the  situation 
instantly  but  for  the  fact  that  his  Honor  H.  G.  Connor  of  the 
United  States  District  Court  has  issued  an  injunction 
restraining  the  parties  mentioned,  and  others,  from  com- 
mitting acts  of  menace  and  violence.  The  injunction  or 
restraining  order  of  Judge  Connor,  I  hope,  will  bring  the 
excited  parties  to  reason.  His  Honor,  I  am  satisfied,  under 
the  law  has  full  power  to  use  United  States  marshals  or 
such  forces  as  will  enforce  respect  for  the  orders  of  his  court. 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  having  assumed  jurisdiction  over 
the  situation  as  he  has,  order  can  be  restored  there  with  less 
trouble  through  the  police  officers  of  his  court  and  by  his 
order  than  by  State  troops,  but  if  order  is  not  restored  there 
within  a  very  short  time,  I  shall  order  General  Metts  to 
put  sufficient  miUtary  forces  in  the  town  of  Rocky  Mount 
to  restore  order,  uphold  the  law,  and  protect  life  and 
property. 

There  are  disorders  elsewhere  in  the  State  Incident  to  this 
strike.  They  must  cease,  regardless  of  the  reasons  offered 
for  such  lawless  conditions.  I  shall  use  every  power  the 
State  possesses  to  restore  order  and  to  keep  the  peace 
everywhere  in  this  State.  I  warn  those  who  are  engaged  in 
this  lawlessness  and  threats  of  lawlessness  that  they  cannot 
prevail  against  organized  society,  and  that  if  they  do  not 
at  once  come  to  order  and  conduct  their  cause  with  argument 


232  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

rather  than  with  menace,  threats  and  violence,  I  shall  throw- 
all  the  military  power  of  this  State  against  them  without 
further  delay. 


WITHDRAWING  TROOPS  FROM  ABERDEEN, 
ROCKINGHAM,  RALEIGH  AND 
ROCKY  MOUNT 

AUGUST  2,  1922 

I  have  directed  General  Metts  to  withdraw  the  troops 
from  Aberdeen,  Rockingham,  Raleigh  and  Rocky  Mount. 
According  to  information  which  I  have  I  think  conditions 
are  now  so  orderly  and  composed  that  there  is  no  further 
danger  of  violence  in  any  of  the  disturbed  areas. 

I  earnestly  hope  that  all  parties  will  respect  the  law, 
keep  the  peace  and  respect  the  lawful  directions  of  the  local 
officers. 

If  there  should  be  disorder  anywhere  and  danger  to 
life,  liberty  and  property  should  arise,  I  shall  not  hesitate 
to  call  the  troops  to  assist  in  restoration  of  order. 


TROOPS  ORDERED  TO  SPENCER 

AUGUST  19,  1922 

I  ordered  troops  to  Spencer  this  morning  about  9:00 
o'clock.  I  do  not  mean  by  this  action  that  I  think  Mr. 
Ellis  and  the  leaders  of  organized  labor  there  did  not  exert 
themselves  to  uphold  the  law  yesterday,  but  the  situation 
there  is  still  tense,  according  to  my  information. 

Tragedies  are  happening  all  about.  Last  night  a  man 
was  beaten  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  and  his  piteous  cries  for 
help  heard  in  the  near-by  homes.  An  outrage  was  reported 
from  Rocky  Mount. 

Mr.  Miller,  vice  president  of  the  Southern  Railway,  last 
night  urged  me  to  give  them  protection  at  Spencer,  and  said 


Statements  and  Interviews  233 

they  could  not  undertake  to  operate  the  railroad  without 
protection.  He  detailed  to  me  an  incident  there,  which  I 
investigated  and  did  not  find  the  strikers  censurable  for,  to 
the  extent  the  railroad  authorities  thought  they  were;  but  I 
have  become  nervous  and  afraid  that  a  tragedy  may  take 
place  at  Spencer  in  spite  of  the  cooler  heads,  and  that  the 
honor  of  North  Carolina  may  be  degraded. 

I  have  ordered  troops  there,  and  they  go  under  the  same 
instructions  they  went  to  Rocky  Mount  and  to  Concord, 
a  year  ago.  They  are  instructed  to  uphold  the  law,  as  I 
understand  it,  and  respect  every  right  of  the  striking 
laborers,  protect  life  and  property,  and  keep  the  peace. 

I  do  not  think  it  just  in  me  to  leave  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  heroic  Sheriff  of  Rowan  County  longer  the  full 
responsibility  of  upholding  the  law  and  keeping  the  peace 
there.  The  troops  are  sent  there  simply  to  uphold  the  law 
and  the  rights  of  all  parties.  They  will  be  under  the  com- 
mand of  upright  and  honorable  officers,  and  will  do  no  in- 
justice, I  am  sure,  to  any  man's  rights. 

I  ask  for  the  sympathy  and  support  of  all  the  people 
of  North  Carolina  who  respect  the  law  and  want  to  see  order 
and  argument  prevail  in  the  State.  It  is,  in  my  honest 
judgment,  unwise  to  risk  further  the  honor  and  good  name  of 
North  Carolina  at  Salisbury  and  Spencer  in  the  tense  situ- 
ation there  without  having  the  law  represented  by  adequate 
forces  to  uphold  it. 

NO  AUTHORITY  TO  FIX  THE  PRICE  OF  COAL 

AUGUST  26,  1922 

Neither  I  nor  any  department  of  the  State  government 
have  any  legal  right  to  fix  the  price  of  coal  to  the  consumer 
in  this  State.  This  could  only  be  done  as  New  York  State 
is  doing  by  calling  a  special  session  of  the  General  Assembly 
to^  enact  the  emergency  legislation  necessary,  but  the  com- 
mittee appointed  by  me  to  represent  the  State  in  this  matter 
have  been  instructed  by  me  to  fix  the  price  of  coal,  and  to 


234  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

see  to  it  that  those  who  will  not  put  coal  to  the  consumer  at 
the  price  fixed  are  not  given  any  part  of  the  State's  allot- 
ment of  coal  for  distribution,  but  it  shall  be  given  to  those 
dealers  who  will  respect  the  price  fixed. 

Of  course,  the  State's  whole  action  in  this  matter  is  with- 
out warrant  of  law,  but  circumstances  force  it  upon  us. 
There  is  no  other  way  to  get  the  coal  except  through  the 
agencies  recognized  by  the  Federal  government.  As  we 
have  to  assume  this  much  authority  it  seems  to  me  to  be 
logical  and  within  the  power  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
me  to  control  the  price  in  the  way  I  have  stated.  I  hope 
the  people  of  the  State  will  respect  this  policy  and  uphold 
it.  It  is  the  only  way  to  guard  against  possible  profiteer- 
ing and  extortion,  and  I  think  the  committee  representing 
the  State  have  a  right  to  control  the  price  to  avoid  this, 
under  all  the  circumstances.  There  is  no  other  way  to  do  it, 
unless  I  call  a  special  session  of  the  General  Assembly  to 
enact  the  necessary  legislation.  I  would  hate  very  much  to 
do  this,  and  as  the  coal  allotted  to  the  State  will  be  dis- 
tributed under  the  directions  of  the  committee  appointed 
by  me,  for  which  Mr.  Self  is  so  energetically  and  intelligently 
acting,  I  think  they  should  distribute  it  in  such  manner  that 
profiteering  and  extortion  will    be  impossible. 

I  now  think  this  plan  will  be  successful.  If  it  is  not,  I 
see  nothing  else  to  do  except  to  follow  New  York  State  and 
call  the  General  Assembly  into  extraordinary  session  to  fix 
the  price.  I  have  directed  the  committee  to  fix  a  price 
reasonable  and  just.  I  shall  approve  the  price  fixed  by 
them  unless  I  shall  be  convinced  that  it  is  unjust. 


ELECTION  RETURNS:  NORTH  CAROLINA'S 

FUTURE 

NOVEMBER  8,  1922 

I  am  greatly  rejoiced  by  the  election  news,  both  from 
the  State  and  other  states.  The  returns  are  not  yet  com- 
plete enough  to  ascertain  the  full  significance  of  the  con- 


Statements  and  Interviews  235 

gressional  elections.  It  Is  certain,  however,  that  we  have 
made  large  gains.  I  am  very  glad  of  this,  because  I  do 
not  believe  the  Republican  party  is  measuring  up  to  the 
responsibilities  which  confront  the  United  States  govern- 
ment. Everything  points  to  a  Democratic  victory  next 
time. 

In  the  State  the  victory  is  unprecedented.  The  final 
figures  will  show  the  largest  majority  the  party  ever  received, 
and  it  is  now  certain  that  we  have  carried  more  counties 
than  ever  before.  I  am,  naturally,  very  happy  over  this 
result,  although  I  know  the  opposition  of  our  people  to  the 
weak  and  inefficient  government  at  Washington  power- 
fully contributed  to  this  crushing  defeat  of  the  Republican 
party.  I  also  know  that  the  Democratic  party's  adminis- 
tration of  affairs  in  the  State  was  approved.  The  great 
victory  in  the  State  ought  not  to  make  us  vain  but  all  the 
more  seriously  determined  to  faithfully  serve  the  people, 
whose  servants  we  are,  and  give  them  constructive  and 
progressive  government,  which  I  am  sure  they  have  voted 
for,  and  expect. 

We  must  not  offend  our  Republican  neighbors  by  offen- 
sive boasting.  They  are  our  fellow  citizens,  if  they  do 
disagree  with  us,  and  we  must  radiate  among  all  the  people 
tolerance  and  good  will.  Republicans  and  Democrats  can 
easily  agree  about  a  great  many  things  looking  toward  the 
development  of  our  State.  We  should  agree  where  we  can, 
and  all  move  together  for  a  greater  and  stronger  North 
Carolina. 


SHIP  SUBSIDIES 

NOVEMBER  23,  1922 

The  fight  against  the  establishment  of  a  ship  company 
has  been  conducted  for  some  days  very  insidiously  and  with 
great  shrewdness.  All  manner  of  misleading  statements 
are  being  circulated  about  it. 

One  of  the  arguments  its  opponents  are  circulating  over 
the  State  is  that  it  is  a  ship  subsidy  proposition,  and  that 


236  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

while  all  the  Democrats  in  Congress  are  fighting  a  ship 
subsidy  with  might  and  main,  the  Democratic  Governor  of 
the  State  is  trying  to  pass  a  ship  subsidy  here. 

Of  course,  the  Democratic  administration  of  Woodrow 
Wilson  established  a  ship  company  and  the  United  States 
government  now  owns  the  ships.  I  want  to  do  the  same 
thing  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Harding's  administration 
has  so  badly  managed  the  ship  company  that  it  has  proven 
of  little  value,  and  of  great  loss.  If  it  has  been  conducted 
everywhere  else  as  it  has  in  regard  to  the  commerce  of 
North  Carolina,  I  am  surprised  the  loss  is  not  greater  than 
it  is. 

They  have  never  sought  a  dollar's  worth  of  business  in 
North  Carolina,  although  the  tonnage  is  heavy,  and  a 
great  business  might  have  been  developed  here.  The 
Democrats  in  Congress  are  fighting  efforts  to  give  this  fleet 
away  to  private  concerns  at  slaughter  prices,  and  then  pay 
them  subsidies  to  operate  them. 

The  United  States  government  ought  to  keep  the  ships, 
and  put  an  administration  in  power  that  would  operate 
them  in  competition  with  the  railroads,  as  far  as  our  coastal 
business  is  concerned,  and  do  a  world  carrying  trade. 

If  North  Carolina  establishes  a  corporation  to  own  a  ship 
company  and  develop  the  commerce  of  our  State,  I  am 
quite  sure  that  under  Democratic  government  there  will  be 
no  subsidy  to  anybody  about  it,  or  loss,  because  we  will 
operate  it  in  competition  with  the  railroads,  and  make 
money  on  it.  We  want  basic  points  in  North  Carolina, 
and  from  them  we  want  to  radiate  the  freight  over  the 
State.  It  certainly  cannot  hurt  any  part  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  I  am  sure  it  will  help  the  whole  State  by  immedi- 
ately and  almost  magically  revolutionizing  the  commerce  of 
the  eastern  section  of  our  State. 

In  due  time  the  whole  matter  will  be  put  before  the 
State,  and  the  people  called  upon  to  get  behind  it  and 
strike  off  the  commercial  handcuffs  by  which  North  Caro- 
lina has  been  manacled  so  long. 

Of  course,  demagogues  are  already  spreading  it  over  the 
State  that  this  will  result  in  great  increase  in  taxes  on  the 


Statements  and  Interviews  237 

value  of  property  in  the  State.  This  is  ridiculous,  because 
we  will  never  have  any  more  taxes  on  the  value  of  property 
for  any  purposes  if  I  can  help  it. 

This  proposition  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  port  bill 
projected  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  Mr.  Bowie's  railroad 
propositions  from  the  West.  It  will  be  presented  to  the 
State  upon  its  merit  and  upon  carefully  ascertained  facts. 
I  am  opposed  to  the  sale  of  the  North  Carolina  stock  in 
either  one  of  the  railroads,  and  have  frequently  so  declared. 
I  will  fight  to  the  limit  any  proposition  to  swap  or  trade 
them. 


NEAR  EAST  RELIEF 


NOVEMBER  27,  1922 


Current  news  events  and  information  given  by  reliable 
Americans,  indicate  that  Christian  civilization  is  con- 
fronted with  a  very  serious  emergency.  Over  800,000 
refugees  of  the  Turkish  victory  and  massacre  at  Smyrna 
have  been  thrown  on  the  hands  of  the  Near  East  Relief 
and  Red  Cross  in  Thrace  and  Greece  respectively. 

The  Near  East  Relief  is  already  overtaxed  to  take  care 
of  the  110,000  little  orphans.  Christian  martyrs  of  Armenian 
war  heroes,  whom  they  are  saving  from  the  Turk  and 
building  into  a  new  Armenian  nation. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  recently  appealed 
for  funds  to  take  care  of  the  emergency  created  by  these 
refugees  from  Smyrna.  I  am  informed  that  the  response  has 
been  altogether  inadequate.  It  would  seem  that  the  people 
of  North  Carolina  and  the  United  States,  have  not  readily 
grasped  the  magnitude  and  pathos  of  the  situation  involving 
the  absolute  destitution  and  near  starvation  of  the  women, 
children  and  old  men. 

I  therefore  make  this  additional  appeal,  at  this  season  of 
Thanksgiving,  for  God's  blessing  to  us,  for  the  Christians 
in  the  stricken  area,  whose  plight  is  a  result  of  their  loyalty 
to  Christ.     Unless  we  respond  immediately,  I  am  informed, 


238  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

thousands  of  these  unfortunate  refugees  from  Smyrna  will 
be  dead  before  Christmas. 

I  request  the  mayors,  women's  clubs  business  men's 
clubs,  philanthropic  organizations  and  all  other  citizens  of 
North  Carolina,  to  hold  this  tragedy  in  mind  during 
Thanksgiving  week,  and  I  appeal  to  you  again  to  make  your 
response  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  worthy  of  the  generous 
heart,  humanitarian  and  Christian  spirit  of  our  great  state 
of  North  Carolina. 

That  this  may  be  organized  and  definite,  I  hereby  desig- 
nate Sunday,  December  3,  as  a  special  day  of  mass-meeting 
in  our  communities,  and  the  date  on  which  those  who  are 
able  to  help,  may  send  their  contributions  either  to  the  Near 
East  Relief  in  Raleigh  or  to  their  local  county  chairman  for 
this  work,  as  the  climax  of  this  extraordinary  appeal. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


THE  REVENUE  BILL  AND  THE  DEFICIT 

FEBRUARY  5,  1923 

The  only  way  to  escape  the  responsibility  of  granting 
the  appropriations  requested  for  education,  farm  extension, 
experiment  work,  the  equalization  fund  to  help  the  weaker 
counties,  the  institutions  for  the  State's  unfortunate,  and 
the  institutions  of  higher  learning,  is  to  show  that  the 
present  revenue  bill  of  the  State  will  not  justify  it. 

The  present  revenue  of  the  State  does  justify  it,  and  there 
will  be  no  excuse  for  the  General  Assembly's  not  proceeding 
to  make  provision  according  to  the  recommendations  of 
the  Budget  Commission. 

The  two  years  income  which  will  be  derived  under  the 
present  revenue  bill,  together  with  the  taxes  already  levied 
but  not  collected,  make  ample  funds  for  all  these  institutions 
for  our  unfortunate  and  defective  people,  and  to  do  every- 
thing which  the  State  ought  to  do. 

I  simply  cannot  comprehend  the  hellishness  with  which 
a  few  political  rivals  and  enemies  of  mine  are  undertaking 


Statements  and  Interviews  239 

by   an   oriental   manipulation   of  figures   to   show   to   the 
contrary. 

There  is  no  deficit  in  the  State  Treasury  of  this  State, 
except  in  the  mere  cash  on  hand,  and  today  we  are  in  process 
of  collecting  taxes  levied  by  the  last  General  Assembly,  but 
not  yet  collected,   aggregating  about  the  following  sums: 

Income  taxes 33,500,000 

Railroad  taxes 600,000 

Insurance  premium  taxes 415,000 

Miscellaneous  taxes,  at  least 400,000 

Total 34,915,000 

One  great  corporation  was  written  up  since  the  Budget 
Comimission's  report  and  the  auditors  claim  they  owe 
3300,000  more  income  tax  for  1921  than  they  have  paid. 
From  the  facts  given  to  me  I  think  this  will  be  collected. 

I  am  satisfied  that  outstanding  taxes  will  make  a  cold 
five  millions  of  dollars,  but  in  their  vindictive  desire  to 
break  down  this  administration  they  insist  this  ought  to  be 
disregarded,  and  that  this  General  Assembly  cannot  make 
appropriations  against  the  two  years  taxes  to  be  levied  by 
it,  because  it  will  be  necessary  to  use  these  taxes  to  meet 
deficits. 

It  is  not  the  truth.  We  expect  to  establish  it,  and  show 
up  the  men  who  are  undertaking  to  do  it  not  only  as  enemies 
to  the  Democratic  party  but  to  the  State  and  to  humanity. 
The  trick  they  are  trying  to  play  on  me  is  to  charge  against 
my  administration  two  full  years  of  operating  expenses 
and  exclude  five  millions  or  more  of  the  revenue  provided 
by  the  last  General  Assembly  to  pay  them. 


THE  RECORD  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

MARCH  6,  1923 

Upon  the  whole,  I  am  greatly  pleased  at  the  record  of 
the  General  Assembly.  It  has  only  one  rival  in  the  history 
of  southern  general  assemblies,  and  that  is,  its  great 
predecessor  of  1921. 


240  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

I  am  sure  the  people  will  endorse  its  great  constructive 
work. 

It  will  come  back  again,  in  my  opinion,  and  add  to  its 
great  record  the  necessary  legislation  to  establish  water 
carried  commerce  on  our  wonderful  navigable  waters. 


PROGRESS  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  THROUGH 
HARMONY  AND  COOPERATION 

MARCH  26,  1923 

The  Governor  ^  spoke  for  progress  in  North  Carolina 
through  concord  and  cooperation  of  its  people. 

He  declared  that  in  bringing  about  the  adoption  of  the 
new  program,  including  the  new  tax  system,  unparalleled 
investments  in  schools,  hospitals,  roads,  etc.,  there  had 
necessarily  been  some  friction  and  acrimony;  that  he  had  at 
times  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  strike  back  at  the  critics  of 
the  program  which  his  whole  heart  was  set  on  inaugurating 
in  the  State  with  some  acrimony;  but  that  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  last  General  Assembly  marked  the  practical 
completion  of  the  program  which  he  had  set  out  to  help 
adopt  in  the  State;  that  he  had  no  bitterness  about  the 
contest  through  which  he  had  come,  and  earnestly  hoped 
that  even  those  who  had  opposed  the  program  would  now 
realize  that  the  high  interest  of  the  State  required  that  the 
conflict  should  be  forgotten,  and  all  unite  to  administer  and 
work  out  the  unfinished  part  of  it  in  concord  and  harmony. 

He  said  that  various  stories  were  afloat  about  political 
intrigues  of  his  own,  but  that  he  was  not  in  any  political 
intrigue  with  any  set  of  men;  that  the  only  aspirations  he 
now  had  in  public  matters  was  to  see  the  program  enacted 
by  the  last  General  Assembly  for  the  further  enlargement 
of  the  institutions  for  the  unfortunate,  for  the  extension 
and  strengthening  of  the  common  school  system,  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  institutions  for  higher  learning,  the 
construction  of  more  miles  of  good  roads,  the  extension  of 


iThis  is  a  report  of  Governor  Morrison's  speech  before  the  Current  Topics  Club  of  Rocky  Mount. 


Statements  and  Interviews  241 

the  agricultural  experiment  and  the  extension  work,  the 
carrying  out  of  the  great  program  of  the  Health  Depart- 
ment, the  rehabilitation  of  the  great  fishing,  oyster  and  sea 
food  industry  of  the  State,  and  the  filling  of  our  inland 
streams  throughout  the  State  with  fish,  and  other  activities 
of  the  State  looking  to  its  upbuilding  and  strengthening. 
He  expected  to  dedicate  the  remaining  period  of  his  term  as 
Governor,  not  to  political  activities,  but  to  the  purposes 
mentioned,  and  to  make  use  of  all  the  strength  he  could 
command  to  keep  alive  the  campaign  to  make  North 
Carolina  raise  more  hogs,  chickens,  turkeys,  vegetables, 
nuts,  and  berries,  and  to  help  fill  the  State  with  happiness 
and  plenty. 

He  considered  it  of  the  highest  importance  that  the  people 
should  not  be  torn  asunder  by  political  questions,  but  as  a 
united  brotherhood  work  together  for  those  things  high 
above  political  considerations,  which  would  make  North 
Carolina  stronger  and  its  people  happier  and  more  efficient. 

The  Governor  said  he  had  had  a  pretty  stormy  time 
since  he  entered  the  race  for  Governor,  but  that  he  hoped 
the  remainder  of  his  term  should  be  devoted  to  the  quiet 
administration  of  the  duties  placed  upon  him  by  the  last 
General  Assembly. 

He  declared  that  if  the  people  of  the  State  would  keep 
alive  the  spirit  of  concord  and  cooperation,  and  go  on 
with  the  great  tasks  to  which  they  had  set  themselves, 
North  Carolina  in  a  few  years  would  be  the  wonder  of  the 
entire  Republic. 

He  urged  the  business  men  of  Rocky  Mount  to  a  broad 
spirit  of  community  cooperation,  and  that  they  exert 
themselves  to  radiate  a  spirit  of  good  fellowship  and  cooper- 
ation throughout  the  State. 

The  Governor  then  pictured  the  State  with  a  modern 
and  scientific  agriculture,  termendously  augmented  manu- 
facturing industries  operating  with  power  from  the  develop- 
ment of  our  own  waterways  in  Central  and  Western  North 
Carolina,  a  great  fish,  oyster,  clam  and  scallop  industry  in 
our  waters  in  the  East,  with   a  great  commerce  moving 

16 


242  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

upon  railroads  to  our  own  waterways,  and  from  our  own 
seaport  and  water  towns  to  the  other  states  of  the  Repubhc 
and  to  the  world. 


INVESTIGATION  OF  PRISON  CONDITIONS  IN 
THE  STATE 

MAY  11,  1923 

I  have  decided  to  assume  full  responsibility  for  the  in- 
vestigation of  prison  conditions  in  the  State. 

The  sentiment  of  the  public  upon  this  matter  has  arrested 
my  attention,  and  I  am  ready  to  proceed  vigorously  with 
an  investigation  of  the  whole  question  and  to  take  action. 
The  responsibility  is  upon  me,  and  I  think  my  power  is 
ample  under  the  present  law,  and  I  have  decided  to  with- 
draw my  request  to  the  Board  of  Charities  and  Public 
Welfare  for  assistance  in  the  matter. 

Since  I  have  been  Governor,  so  many  large  questions 
have  required  my  thought  and  effort  that  I  possibly  have 
not  given  the  attention  to  reform  in  the  penal  institutions 
that  its  importance  required;  and  too,  I  was  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  legislation  enacted  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Bickett,  when  the  entire  subject  was  up 
for  consideration,  was  satisfactory  to  the  people. 

If,  when  I  have  finished  what  I  contemplate  doing  about 
the  matter,  the  public  is  not  satisfied  with  results,  then 
other  agencies  may  take  the  situation  in  hand. 

I  have  decided  that  until  the  next  General  Assembly 
meets,  the  responsibility  is  ultimately  mine,  and  I  purpose 
to  discharge  my  duty  the  best  I  can.  I  ask  the  public  to 
await  results  before  indulging  in  criticism. 

I  am  thoroughly  in  accord  with  modern  and  progressive 
thought  upon  the  subject  of  prison  reform,  and  under  the 
law  as  it  is  now  written,  I  am  satisfied  the  whole  system 
can  be  put  in  modern  and  up-to-date  shape,  if  it  is  not  now 
in  such  shape. 


Statements  and  Interviews  243 

COMMUTING  NINE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-NINE 

PRISONERS 

JUNE  29,  1923 

Before  leaving  his  office  tonight,  preparatory  to  taking 
his  departure  for  Asheville,  where  he  will  spend  July  and 
August  at  Grove  Park  Inn,  Governor  Cameron  Morrison 
issued  an  order  commuting  the  terms  of  959  convicts  at 
the  State's  Prison  to  indeterminate  sentences.  This  does 
not  include  206  who  are  already  serving  indeterminate 
sentences,  nor  those  serving  life  sentences.  Prisoners  who 
have  served  less  than  one-half  of  their  sentences  get  one- 
fourth  of  their  remaining  time  taken  off.  Those  who  have 
served  more  than  one-half  get  a  third  of  their  remaining 
time  cut  off.  This  action  is  a  part  of  the  Governor's 
prison  reform  program  recently  announced,  when  corporal 
punishment  was  abolished. 


A.  J.  MAXWELL'S  PART  IN  THE  REVENUE 
BILL  OF  1921 

JULY  25,  1923 

After  full  reflection,  I  have  decided  that  the  interests  of 
the  State  require  that  I  should  make  this  further  state- 
ment in  the  controversy  over  the  State's  financial  condition. 

In  answer  to  Mr.  Maxwell,  I  beg  to  refer  the  people, 
not  only  to  the  opinion,  study  and  audit  in  detail  of  the 
Price-Waterhouse  Company,  one  of  the  three  greatest 
auditing  companies  in  America,  and  to  the  study  and  opinion 
of  the  great  legislative  committee,  speaking  through  its 
brilliant  chairman,  the  Hon.  W.  L.  Long,  one  of  the  chief 
executive  officers  of  the  largest  taxpayer  in  North  Carolina, 
east  of  Raleigh,  and  by  far  the  largest  manufacturer  of 
damask  in  the  world,  but  I  desire  to  cite  as  a  further 
authority  in  refutation  of  Mr.  Maxwell's  latest  discourse, 
the  action  and  opinion  of  Mr.  Maxwell  himself,  before  he 


244  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

joined  the  opposition  to  the  administration.  On  the  prin- 
ciple of  appeaHng  from  "PhiHp  drunk  to  Philip  sober,". 
I  want  to  appeal  from  Maxwell  angry  to  Maxwell  the 
good-natured  and  satisfied  servant  of  the  State  and  of 
the  Finance  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly;  from 
Maxwell  mad  and  in  opposition  to  the  administration  to 
Maxwell  satisfied  and  in  support  of  the  administration. 

If  the  Revenue  Bill  of  1921  failed  to  levy  the  necessary 
revenue  upon  the  people  of  the  State  to  meet  the  appropria- 
tions and  expenses  for  the  two  calendar  years  ending 
December  31,  1922,  Mr.  A.  J.  Maxwell  is  more  responsible* 
for  that  fact  than  any  other  man  connected  with  the  legisla- 
tion. He  wrote  the  Revenue  Bill  of  1921.  He  approved 
it  and  at  the  time  took  great  pride  in  it.  He  was  the  expert 
of  the  Finance  Committees  of  the  two  houses;  and  was 
recognized  as  the  man  with  full  knowledge  of  practical 
details,  and  regarded  not  only  as  an  expert,  but  almost  as 
an  oracle  by  the  committees  and  the  General  Assembly. 

Following  a  custom  as  old  as  the  biennial  sessions  of  our 
General  Assembly,  the  appropriations  were  made  for  a 
period  of  two  years  and  a  Revenue  Bill  drawn  designed  to 
raise  adequate  revenue  to  meet  the  appropriations  by 
taxation  for  the  same  period.  If  it  was  not  done  correctly 
Mr.  A.  J.  Maxwell  is  more  responsible  for  it  than  any  other 
man. 

I  had  very  little  to  do  with  the  details  of  the  legislation. 
I  had  urged  in  my  inaugural  address  and  in  my  later 
address  to  the  General  Assembly  that  North  CaroHna 
should  provide  for  the  enlargement  of  its  institutions  for 
our  defective  and  delinquent  people,  and  our  institutions 
for  higher  learning,  and  levy  upon  the  people  adequate 
taxation  to  meet  the  increased  interest  charges  for  per- 
manent Improvements  and  the  enlarged  expenses  for  mainte- 
nance and  current  expenses. 

The  committees  on  appropriations  and  finance  were 
charged  with  the  duty,  if  they  adopted  the  enlarged  program 
of  working  out  details.     Mr.  Maxwell  was,  as  I  have  said, 


Statements  and  Interviews  245 

their  chief  adviser  and  helper.  He  not  only  had  the 
perfect  confidence  of  the  committees,  but  to  a  very  unusual 
degree,  my  confidence. 

Why  did  he  keep  silent  and  allow  North  Carolina, 
according  to  his  present  contention,  to  draw  the  Revenue 
Bill  which  failed  by  five  millions  of  dollars  to  accomplish 
what  the  General  Assembly  desired  to  accomplish.'' 

I  desire  to  relate  with  some  particularity  the  following 
incident  which  details  about  all  I  had  to  do  with  the  partic- 
ulars of  the  bill,  and  give  the  circumstances  under  which 
Mr.  Maxwell  expressed  the  opinion  before  a  large  number 
of  gentlemen  that  the  Revenue  Bill  would  accomplish 
what  the  General  Assembly  sought  to  do — that  is,  levy 
adequate  revenue  to  meet  the  appropriations  and  expenses 
for  the  ensuing  two  years. 

The  incident  is  as  follows: 

Towards  the  close  of  the  session,  I  was  informed  that  the 
Finance  Committee  had  informally  decided  that  in  order 
to  meet  the  appropriations  to  be  made,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  levy  an  ad  valorem  tax  of  five  cents  on  the  hundred 
dollars  of  value.  This  was  a  clear-cut  defeat  of  my  tax 
program,  and  to  that  extent,  a  failure  to  adopt  the  system 
to  which  I  was  committed,  and  for  which  I  thought  the 
people  had  voted  when  they  elected  me  Governor.  I  was 
familiar  with  the  construction  of  the  Revenue  Bill,  and  I 
thought  I  was  prepared  to  convince  the  committee  that  they 
had  been  misled,  and  that  the  levy  of  five  cents  on  the 
hundred  dollars  of  property  value  in  the  State  was  unneces- 
sary. 

My  friends  on  the  committee  put  a  resolution  through 
inviting  me  on  the  following  afternoon  to  appear  before 
the  committee  and  express  my  views.  I  appeared  before 
the  committee  the  following  afternoon  in  the  building 
occupied  by  the  Corporation  Commission. 

My  friend,  Governor  Rufus  A.  Doughton,  was  presid- 
ing, and  by  his  side  sat  the  committee's  oracle  and  expert, 
Mr.  A.  J.  Maxwell.  After  the  preliminary  courtesies,  I 
proceeded    with    my    argument    substantially    as    follows: 


246  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Addressing  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  I  stated 
that  before  proceeding  with  my  argument,  I  would  Hke  to 
ask  the  committee  for  information  about  one  or  two  matters. 
The  chair  signified  the  committee's  pleasure  to  give  me 
any  information  they  could.  I  then  asked  what  amount 
was  necessary  to  prevent  a  deficiency  between  the  appropria- 
tions to  be  made  and  the  revenue  expected  from  the  Revenue 
Bill. 

Governor  Doughton  addressed  Mr.  Maxwell,  and  inquired 
if  he  would  not  answer  my  question  for  the  committee. 
Mr.  Maxwell  arose  and  replied:  "3750,000." 

I  then  inquired  of  Mr.  Maxwell,  who  continued  to  stand, 
if  the  committee  changed  the  Revenue  Bill  as  drawn,  so 
that  the  State  would  take  its  income  tax  before  the  United 
States  government  took  theirs,  (and  at  that  time  this 
would  include  excess  profit  taxes),  what  difference  would  it 
make  in  the  yield  to  the  State.  He  replied:  "Several 
hundred  thousands  of  dollars." 

The  bill  was  tentatively  drawn  so  as  to  permit  the 
United  States  government  to  take  the  taxes  going  to  it 
before  the  State  did. 

I  then  asked  him  if  the  bill  was  changed  so  as  not  to 
permit  the  deduction  from  the  income  tax  of  the  franchise 
tax  levied,  what  difference  in  revenue  that  would  make. 
He  said  it  would  make  a  large  amount,  I  forget  his  exact 
figures. 

I  then  asked  him,  if  the  two  changes  I  had  referred  to 
were  made,  would  not  the  bill  then  raise  the  necessary 
revenue  to  meet  the  appropriations  without  the  five  cents 
on  the  hundred  dollars  of  value.  He  replied  in  the  presence 
of  that  room  full  of  people:     "/  think  it  wouldT 

I  then  proceeded  to  make  the  argument  that  it  was  very 
unwise  for  the  State  not  to  avail  itself  of  the  provisions  of 
the  United  States  government's  Revenue  Act,  and  take  its 
income  first,  which  the  act  of  Congress  permitted,  and 
that  it  was  very  unjust  to  permit  the  deduction  of  the 
franchise  tax  from  the  income  tax,  because  it  would  result 
in  corporations  paying  franchise  tax  which  did  not  make 
any  income,  and  releasing  those  that  did  make  an  income, 
etc. 


Statements  and  Interviews  247 

I  retired  after  finishing  my  argument,  and  a  few  minutes 
afterwards,  the  committee  voted  to  make  the  two  changes 
I  had  asked  for  in  the  Revenue  Bill,  and  to  eliminate  the 
ad  valorem  tax  outright. 

Now  Mr.  Maxwell  claims  that  he  and  the  committee 
missed  it  five  millions  of  dollars,  and  bases  an  onslaught  on 
me  and  the  administration  upon  that  fact. 

Mr.  Maxwell,  satisfied  and  faithful  to  the  administration 
of  the  Democratic  party,  is  more  to  be  relied  on  than  Mr. 
Alaxwell  angry  and  in  assault  upon  the  administration 
and  upon  his  own  actions. 

The  only  deficit  in  this  State's  revenues  was  in  that 
portion  of  the  Revenue  Act  prior  to  my  administration 
levying  thirteen  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars  of  value  to 
pay  the  State's  part  of  the  expenses  of  running  the  schools 
of  the  State.  This  did  result  in  a  deficit  of  more  than 
3710,000.  My  evil  influence  had  not  at  that  time  invaded 
Raleigh  and  disturbed  the  sanity  and  wisdom  of  Mr.  Max- 
well and  his  associate  experts  in  running  the  State  govern- 
ment. This  deficit  resulted  in  a  special  call  of  the  General 
Assembly.  I  did  not  hear  a  word  of  criticism  anywhere, 
although  it  had  occurred  and  was  based  on  the  "good  old," 
"much-regretted"  ad  valorem  tax.  I  had  nothing  to  do 
with  this. 

The  men  who  caused  this  deficit  were  not  criticized  and 
ought  not  to  have  been,  because  they  could  not  definitely 
foresee  what  the  expenses  would  be,  but  now  I  am  to  be 
criticized,  and  my  associates  in  the  present  administration 
are  to  be  criticized,  because  in  the  first  two  years  of  my 
administration,  we  were  not  able  to  catch  up  and  pay  this 
3710,000  in  full.  According  to  the  auditors,  we  could  pay 
3220,000  of  it;  and  I  am  quite  sure  that  the  under-estimate 
made  by  the  auditors  of  the  unpaid  taxes  due  the  State 
for  the  two  tax  years  ending  December  31,  1922,  will  prove 
to  be  sufficient  to  wipe  out  the  whole  3710,000  deficit, 
occurring,  as  I  have  explained,  under  a  revenue  bill  drawn 
prior  to  my  administration  and  with  which  I  had  nothing 
whatever  to  do. 

I  am  satisfied  Mr.  Maxwell  had  more  to  do  with  the 


248  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

bill  under  which  this  school  deficit  occurred  than  any  other 
man  in  the  State.  He  was  supreme  authority  in  all  revenue 
and  tax  legislation  at  that  time,  as  he  was  in  1921. 

I  regret  very  much  to  participate  further  in  this  contro- 
versy, and  had  first  thought  I  would  not,  but  I  think  it 
is  important  for  the  people  of  the  State  to  have  the  facts 
herein  stated,  in  order  that  they  may  consider  them  in 
connection  with  Mr.  Maxwell's  present  contention  that  we 
made  the  most  monumental  failure  to  meet  appropriations 
and  expenses  by  an  adequate  levy  of  revenue  ever  made  in 
this  or  any  other  state. 


THE  REVENUE  BILL  OF  1921 

JULY  26,  1923 

The  Revenue  Bill  of  1921,  which  Mr.  Maxwell  declared 
to  me  in  the  presence  of  the  joint  Finance  Committees  of 
the  two  houses  would  raise  the  necessary  revenue  to  meet 
the  appropriations  carried  in  the  Appropriations  Bill, 
was  not  drawn  to  cover  the  recommendations  of  the 
Budget  Commission  to  the  General  Assembly.  It  was 
drawn  to  cover  the  action  of  the  Appropriations  Committee 
upon  the  recommendations  of  the  Budget  Commission. 
The  Appropriations  Bill  had  been  completed  at  the  time  Mr. 
Maxwell  made  his  statement,  to  which  I  have  referred. 
The  two  houses  were  acting  jointly  and  in  close  contact. 
The  Budget  Commission's  recommendations  had  been 
somewhat  exceeded,  not  very  largely,  but  Mr.  Maxwell 
knew  this  as  well  as  everybody  else  did.  We  had  under 
consideration,  not  the  Budget  Commission's  recommenda- 
tions, but  the  Appropriations  Bill.  I  am  quite  sure  this 
dodge  of  Mr.  Maxwell  will  be  understood  by  an  intelli- 
gent citizenship,  for  everybody  must  know  that  revenue 
bills  are  not  drawn  to  meet  recommendations  of  a  Budget 
Commission  or  anybody  else,  but  to  meet  the  action  of 
ithe  General  Assembly  in  its  appropriations  bills,  after 
consideration  of  all  recommendations. 

On  the  occasion  referred  to,  I  did  not  ask  him  anything 


Statements  and  Interviews  249 

about  the  Budget  Commission's  recommendations,  and 
there  was  absolutely  no  discussion  of  that  question,  but  the 
question  was,  meeting  the  appropriations  and  the  State's 
expenses  carried  by  the  Appropriations  Bill.  If  Mr.  Max- 
well at  that  time  had  stood  up  and  declared  that  against  the 
appropriations  and  expenses  for  the  two  years  ending 
December  31,  1922,  we  could  credit  only  such  portion  of 
the  revenue  to  be  raised  for  the  current  two  years  by  the 
Revenue  Bill  as  would  be  collected  at  the  end  of  the  second 
year,  he  would  have  been  laughed  at  by  the  entire  committee 
of  intelligent  gentlemen.  He  did  not  do  this,  because  it 
would  have  been  absurd  for  him  to  have  done  so. 

Now  he  claims  that  only  such  part  of  the  revenue  should 
be  credited  against  appropriations  and  expenses  for  the 
two  years  as  had  been  actually  collected  on  December  31, 
1922.  Of  course,  this  would  exclude  the  income  tax  for 
one  whole  year,  insurance  premium  taxes,  for  six  months, 
and  various  other  miscellaneous  taxes,  aggregating  in  all, 
according  to  the  Auditing  Committee,  34,700,000,  which 
we  know  is  an  under-estimate,  because  collections  actually 
made  since  the  Auditing  Committee  finished  its  work  show 
their  estimate  to  be  too  small. 

We  have  since  collected  the  money  and  applied  it  to 
the  account,  as  the  bill  drawn  by  Mr.  Maxwell  intended 
it  should  be  applied. 

The  difficulty  with  Maxwell  arises  not  because  the 
Appropriations  Committee  of  1921  exceeded  the  recommen- 
dations of  the  Budget  Commission,  as  he  claims,  but  because 
he  excludes  from  the  account  a  very  large  portion  of  one 
of  the  two  years  revenue. 


DEATH  OF  PRESIDENT  WARREN  G.  HARDING 

AUGUST  2,  1923 

I'm  deeply  distressed,  and  I  am  sure  the  entire  citizen- 
ship of  North  Carolina  will  be,  to  learn  of  the  President's 
death. 


250  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

President  Harding  was  one  of  the  most  lovable  men 
who  ever  filled  this  great  position.  I  think  the  whole 
country  esteemed  him  as  one  of  the  most  lovable  presidents 
and  there  was  universal  admiration  for  his  personal  traits 
of  character. 

He  was  very  popular  in  this  State. 


NEWSPAPERS  SHOULD  GET  THE  FACTS 
ABOUT  THE  DEFICIT 

AUGUST  9,  1923 

I  noticed  from  the  streaming  headlines  in  the  Greens- 
boro News,  the  Raleigh  News  and  Observer,  and  a  few  other 
papers  of  the  6th,  that  it  is  a  fixed  and  settled  fact  that 
there  was  a  deficit  of  a  little  more  than  five  millions  of 
dollars  on  December  31,  1922,  in  the  State's  revenue.  The 
statement  of  the  special  committee  appointed  by  the  two 
houses  of  the  General  Assembly,  including  one  prominent 
Republican,  is  totally  ignored;  the  balance  sheet  made  by 
the  great  auditing  company,  which  cost  the  State  about 
350,000,  is  totally  ignored;  the  whole  matter  is  summarily 
and  conclusively  disposed  of. 

As  Governor  of  all  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  I  want 
to  declare  to  the  people  of  the  State  that  there  was  not 
a  deficit  in  the  revenues  of  the  state  of  North  Carolina  for 
the  period  ending  December  31,  1922,  and  to  urge  the 
patriotic  press,  even  that  part  of  it  so  hostile  to  me  and  the 
administration  of  which  I  am  the  oificial  head,  to  ascertain 
the  facts  for  themselves  and  give  the  people  of  the  State  the 
truth. 

If  it  can  be  established  that  North  Carolina  failed  by 
five  millions  of  dollars  in  the  two  years  ending  December  31, 
1922,  to  levy  revenue  to  meet  the  appropriations  and 
expenses  of  the  State  for  that  period,  we  cannot  market 
any  longer,  at  a  price  anybody  would  take,  the  securities 
of  this  State.  The  fact  that  we  have  been  able  to  do  so, 
since  the  assault  was  made  upon  the  revenues  of  the  State, 


Statements  and  Interviews  251 

is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  great  financial  institutions  and 
brokers  of  New  York,  who  have  examined  into  the  charge, 
know  it  to  be  false;  and  yet,  the  securities  of  our  State 
finally  go  to  investors,  and  these  assaults  published  here 
in  our  State  upon  the  financial  policies  of  the  State  have 
been  broadcasted  over  the  country  to  the  great  hurt  of 
the  State  in  the  matter  of  marketing  its  securities.  This 
is  not  a  matter  which  the  most  bitter  opponent  of  the 
administration  can  afford  to  be  partisan  or  unfair  about. 

The  truth  must  be  ascertained.  It  can  easily  be  done. 
If  the  press  of  the  State  will  cease  to  pay  so  much  attention 
to  what  the  leading  figures  in  the  controversy  say  and  go 
to  the  audit  and  get  the  facts  and  give  them  to  the  people, 
as  their  own  statements  and  not  as  quotations  from  the 
disputants  in  the  controversy,  the  matter  can  be  settled. 
I  appeal  to  them  to  do  so,  and  without  a  tinge  of  partisan- 
ship, but  in  love  of  their  State,  and  the  truth. 

What  are  the  facts.? 

The  revenue  provided  for  in  the  State's  Revenue  Act 
of  1921-1922  proved  to  be  ample  to  meet  the  appropria- 
tions made  for  the  two  years,  and  the  fixed  expenses  against 
the  State.  But  it  is  true  that,  pending  the  collection  of 
the  taxes  for  each  year,  the  State  had  to  borrow  money  or 
let  its  bills  go  unpaid.  The  borrowing  reached  its  peak  at 
the  end  of  the  second  tax  year,  to  wit:  December  31,  1922, 
because  practically  all  the  appropriations  and  charges 
against  the  State  for  the  period  of  two  years  had  been  paid 
at  that  time,  and  a  large  part  of  the  taxes  for  the  year  1922 
had  not  been  collected.  The  amount  borrowed  is  called 
a  "deficit"  by  Mr.  Maxwell  and  his  followers,  and  for  this 
he  is  hailed  as  savior  and  hero,  and  his  friends  are  now 
about  to  make  him  a  candidate  for  Governor,  according 
to  the  reports  from  Raleigh. 

Deficit  in  what,  I  would  like  for  the  press  of  the  State 
to  make  clear  to  the  people. 

Why,  of  course,  a  deficit  only  in  collection  of  taxes,  and 
not  in  the  revenues  levied  for  the  period.  On  the  31st  of 
December,  1922,  against  this  borrowed  money,  in  the  shape 
of  over-drafts  on  the  special  accounts  of  the  State,  and  in 


252  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

money  borrowed  on  notes  of  the  State,  there  were  out- 
standing all  the  taxes  due  by  the  railroads  of  the  State  for 
both  1921  and  1922,  because  the  roads  had  tied  this  up  in  law 
suits  and  we  could  not  collect  it.  We  won  the  law  suits 
since  the  31st  of  December,  1922.  The  income  tax  for  the 
year  1922  of  course  had  not  been  collected,  because  it  could 
not  be  computed  until  after  the  31st  of  December,  1922. 
It  is  now  known  that  it  will  exceed  all  expectations  when 
collections  are  fully  made.  The  tax  on  insurance  premium 
receipts  for  the  six  months  ending  December  31,  1922  had 
not  been  paid  because  it  could  not  be  computed  until  the 
full  expiration  of  the  year.  Various  miscellaneous  taxes  in 
the  nature  of  bills  receivable  were  due  the  State,  together 
making  ample  money  to  repay  that  which  had  been  borrowed 
pending  their  collection. 

Now,  what  is  the  sense  of  an  oriental  manipulation  of 
figures  and  facts  to  assert  to  the  world  that  this  temporary 
borrowing  against  taxes  constitutes  to  its  full  amount 
a  deficit  in  the  State's  revenues,  when  as  a  matter  of  truth 
and  fact,  there  had  been  levied,  as  I  have  explained,  fully 
enough  money  to  meet  every  appropriation  and  expense  of 
the  State  for  the  period  ending  December  31,  1922,  and  the 
only  difference  was  that  the  taxes  were  of  such  character  that 
they  could  not  be  fully  ascertained  and  computed  and 
collected  until  the  full  expiration  of  the  year. 

There  was  a  deficit  of  actual  cash  on  hand  at  the  close 
of  the  two  year  period.  Everybody  knew  this.  There  was 
a  difference  as  to  the  amount  of  it,  and  I  will  explain  later 
to  the  people  why.  It  grew  out  of  the  fact  that  the  old 
special  school  account  had  always  been  treated  as  a  special 
account,  but  owing  to  the  change  in  the  system,  the  old 
account  had  not  been  written  up  and  closed  out.  When  it 
was  done,  it, took  a  sum  of  money  which  was  totally  unex- 
pected by  anybody.  Mr.  Lacy  did  not  include  this  in  his 
statement  to  the  Budget  Commission,  and,  therefore,  the 
difference  in  the  findings  of  the  auditing  company  and  Mr. 
Lacy's  figures,  to  a  large  extent. 

But  whatever  this  borrowed  amount  was,  at  the  end 
of  the  fiscal  period,  December  31,  1922,  there  was  ample 


Statements  and  Interviews  253 

outstanding  taxes  levied  for  the  very  purpose  of  paying  it. 
The  gentlemen  who  make  this  attack  upon  the  financial 
poHcies  of  the  State  are  dealing  in  misleading  intellectual 
gymnastics.  They  most  unjustly  and  misleadingly  say 
there  was  a  deficit  to  the  full  amount  of  this  borrowing. 
There  was,  of  course,  a  deficit  in  cash  on  hand,  but  there 
was  no  deficit  in  revenues  levied  for  the  period,  and  the 
leaders  in  this  deviltry  know  it. 


STATE  DEFICIT;  THE  METHOD  OF  FINANCING 
THE  GOVERNMENT 

AUGUST  9,  1923 

What  the  "State  deficit"  crowd  calls  a  "deficit"  in 
the  revenues  of  the  1921  and  1922  period  is  simply  the 
aggregate  of  sums  of  money  borrowed  from  the  special 
accounts  of  the  State  and  from  the  banks  with  which  to 
pay  appropriations  and  bills  pending  the  collection  of  the 
taxes  levied  by  the  Revenue  Act  for  that  period.  It  has 
no  more  to  do  with  whether  there  was  a  deficit  in  the 
amount  of  revenue  levied  in  the  Revenue  Act  for  1921  and 
1922  than  if  it  had  never  been  borrowed  at  all,  because  it 
simply  takes  the  place  of  the  bills  and  appropriations  to 
which  it  was  applied.  It  was  borrowed  against  the  out- 
standing taxes  in  order  to  prevent  the  State's  bills  from 
going  unpaid,  and,  of  course,  took  the  place  of  the  bills 
paid.  Whether  or  not  there  was  a  deficit  in  the  Revenue 
Act  could  only  be  settled  when  the  taxes  were  collected 
and  credited  on  this  borrowed  sum,  just  as  it  would  have 
been  on  the  bills  paid  with  the  borrowed  money,  if  they  had 
not  been  paid. 

It  is  just  as  ridiculous  to  try  to  run  the  State  with  no 
books  except  a  cash  book  as  it  would  be  to  run  any  other 
business  that  way.  The  State  Treasurer's  account  of 
cash  receipts  and  disbursements  simply  gives  one  item  in 


254  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the  financial  statement  of  the  State's  affairs,  to  wit:  the 
cash  or  overdraft  item. 

The  United  States  government,  the  states  and  towns 
and  counties  all  borrow  money  against  outstanding  taxes, 
and  it  has  no  more  to  do  with  whether  there  is  a  final 
deficit  in  the  Revenue  Act  than  if  it  was  not  borrowed  at 
all.  The  item  of  borrowed  money  is  simply  substituted  in 
the  final  statement  for  the  bills  it  was  used  to  pay. 

The  deficit  would  arise  if  the  borrowed  money  exceeded 
the  outstanding  taxes  to  the  extent  of  such  excess.  The 
money  that  had  been  borrowed  on  December  31,  1922,  will 
not  exceed  the  taxes  which  had  been  levied,  but  were 
uncollected  for  that  period.  These  taxes  include  all  the 
franchise  tax  due  by  the  railroads  of  the  State  for  the  two 
years,  1921  and  1922,  and  the  income  tax  for  the  year  1922, 
which  items  alone  aggregate  over  four  millions  of  dollars; 
the  insurance  premium  taxes,  which  aggregate  over  ^400,000 
for  the  six  months  ending  December  31,  1922;  and  various 
miscellaneous  uncollected  taxes  which  would  easily  cover 
the  borrowed  sums,  that  are  so  erroneously  called  a  "deficit." 


PRESIDENT  HARDING— A    NOBLE    GENTLEMAN 

AND  AN  ELOQUENT  DEFENDER  OF 

FREE  GOVERNMENT 

AUGUST  10,  1923 

The  state  of  North  Carolina  mourns  with  the  other 
states  of  the  Union  the  death  of  President  Harding.  The 
people  of  every  class  and  of  both  colors  feel  a  keen  sense 
of  loss  in  the  President's  death. 

A  majority  of  the  people  of  this  State  were  not  in  accord 
with  the  President  upon  the  political  questions  of  the  day; 
but  all  recognized  in  President  Harding  a  noble  gentleman 
and  an  eloquent  defender  of  the  basic  principles  upon 
which  our  whole  fabric  of  free  government  rests. 

He  largely  gave  his  life  to  the  service  of  humanity  and 


Statements  and  Interviews  255 

his  country,  and  now  the  whole  world  is  sorrowed  by  his 
death. 

We  ought  to  realize  in  this  sad  hour  the  danger  to  our 
country  of  partisanship  and  bitterness  in  our  public  life, 
and  learn  from  the  sweet  and  gentle  life  of  Warren  G. 
Harding  a  lesson  in  tolerance  and  good  will. 


LAW  AND  ORDER  AT  SPRUCE  PINE 

SEPTEMBER  27,  1923 

A  serious  situation  has  arisen  at  Spruce  Pine,  in  Mitch- 
ell County,  which  caused  the  Governor  to  dispatch 
Adjutant  General  Metts  there  by  the  first  train.  He  is 
instructed  to  keep  in  touch  with  developments  and  advise 
the  Governor  immediately  if  any  assistance  is  needed  in 
maintaining  law  and  order. 

The  Governor  late  this  afternoon  received  a  telegram 
from  local  authorities  indicating  that  there  has  been  some 
movement  started  toward  driving  colored  labor  away 
from  the  place.  He  immediately  informed  the  authorities 
that  he  would  afford  the  community  ample  protection,  in 
order  to  safeguard  the  rights  of  all  its  citizens,  both  white 
and  colored.     His  telegram  follows: 

Hon.  a.  N.  Fuller,  Mayor,  Spruce  Pine,  N.  C. 
T.  W.  Dayton,  Sanitary  Officer,  Spruce  Pine,  N.  C. 
Dr.  Charles  A,  Peterson,  Spruce  Pine,  N,  C. 
Dan  W.  Adams,  Spruce  Pine,  N.  C. 

Please  call  on  local  authorities  to  uphold  the  law  and  protect  every- 
body in  their  rights,  including  the  colored  people.  I  am  directing 
Adjutant  General  Metts  to  leave  for  Spruce  Pine  tonight.  I  will 
afford  all  protection  the  local  authorities  may  require. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


256  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

THE  REMOVAL  OF  DR.  McBRAYER 
FROM  OFFICE 

NOVEMBER  26,  1923 

I  have  not  been  applied  to  by  Dr.  McBrayer  ^  for  a  pardon 
in  his  case,  but  notwithstanding  this  fact,  I  have  been 
considering  the  matter. 

It  appears  that  under  my  power  to  pardon  I  have  no 
right  whatever  to  annul  the  law  applicable  to  Dr. 
McBrayer's  case,  except  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  350  fine. 
The  language  of  the  law  is  that  one  guilty  of  trading  with 
himself  in  violation  of  the  terms  of  the  Statute  "shall  be 
forthwith  removed  from  his  position  in  the  public  service." 
Section  4390  of  the  Consolidated  Statutes  of  North  Carolina. 

I  do  not  think  the  Governor  or  any  court  has  any  right 
whatsoever  to  annul  this  law.  It  is  a  clear-cut  mandate 
of  the  lawmaking  power  o  the  State,  and  unmistakably 
within  its  constitutional  power. 

Of  course,  the  appeal  from  Judge  Sinclair's  judgment 
stops  the  execution  of  his  judgment  until  after  the  appeal  is 
determined,  but  if  Judge  Sinclair  is  reversed  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  it  will  not  affect  in  the  slightest,  in  my  judgment, 
the  duty  of  the  board  of  trustees  to  comply  with  the  law. 

I  am  truly  sorry  that  Dr.  McBrayer  is  faced  by  this 
situation,  because  I  believe  he  has  rendered  humanity  and 
the  State  great  service,  notwithstanding  the  errors  com- 
mitted in  his  administration.  We  have  stood  by  him  until 
we  are  faced  with  a  dictum  of  the  lawmaking  pov/er  of  the 
State  which  cannot  be  defied. 

I  knew  of  the  statute  forbidding  officers  and  agents  of 
the  State  from  trading  with  themselves,  but  I  did  not 
know  until  the  trial  before  Judge  Sinclair  of  the  provision 
that  required  the  removal  of  the  officer  guilty  of  its  breach. 

I  informed  Dr.  Long  and  Senator  Harrison  of  the  board 
today  that  it  was  up  to  them;  they  had  my  opinion,*;^and 
I  could  not  modify  it. 

1  Dr.  L.  B.  McBrayer  was  superintendent  of  the  State  Sanatorium  for  Tubercular  Patients  at 
Sanatorium,  N.  C. 


Statements  and  Interviews  257 

I  have  the  right  only  to  pardon  men  from  the  judgment 
of  the  courts  for  fines,  imprisonment,  etc.,  for  violation  of 
the  criminal  law,  but  I  have  no  earthly  right  to  say  a  public 
official  shall  not  be  removed  from  office  under  circum- 
stances where  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  says  he 
shall  be. 

This  seems  to  be  a  hard  case,  but  the  law  is  a  good  one 
and  ought  to  warn  every  officer  in  North  Carolina  that  the 
matter  of  trading  where  self-interest  is  involved  is  a  high 
offense  and  cannot  be  tolerated  in  this  State. 


GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY  SHOULD 

BE  LOCATED  AT  RALEIGH;  APPOINTMENT 

OF  BRENT  S.  DRANE 

FEBRUARY  2,  1924 

At  a  meeting  in  Asheville,  about  a  year  ago,  the  board 
passed  a  resolution,  in  favor  of  moving  its  headquarters  to 
Raleigh,  but  this  course  was  deferred,  on  request  of  Dr. 
Pratt,  who  stated  that  he  contemplated  resigning  and 
thought  it  wise  to  wait  until  his  successor  was  appointed. 
Dr.  Pratt  having  resigned  and  his  successor  having  been 
appointed,  the  office  will  be  moved  to  Raleigh,  barring 
legal  obstacles. 

The  Board  of  the  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  is 
composed  of  the  Governor  and  four  members  of  the  board, 
appointed  by  the  Governor.  The  State  Geologist  and 
Director  was  for  a  long  time  Dr.  Holmes;  he  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  who  has  just  resigned. 

This  organization  has  done  a  great  deal  more  for  North 
Carolina  than  is  generally  understood.  Dr.  Holmes  and 
Dr.  Pratt  were  both  able  men,  and  we  have  about  as 
complete  survey  of  the  soils,  forests,  waterways,  and  min- 
erals of  our  State  as  can  be  made. 

The  office  of  the  board  has  for  a  long  time  been  at  the 
University  of  the  State,  but  not  in  actual  legal  contact 
with  it.     In  my  opinion,  the  office  of  this  board  ought  to 

17 


258  Papers  of  Cameron  AIorrison 

be  moved  to  Raleigh,  and  with  a  sHght  amendment  to  the 
law,  the  duty  of  a  modern  Department  of  Commerce  ought 
to  be  placed  upon  this  board.  In  fact,  under  the  law  as  it 
now  exists,  in  my  judgment,  it  has  the  power,  and  it  is  its 
duty  to  do  almost  everything  which  a  Department  of  Com- 
merce could  do.  Its  name  is  som.ewhat  difficult  and  does 
not  appeal  to  the  popular  imagination.  The  name  ought 
to  be  changed  to: 

"The  Department  of  Commerce,  Industry  and  Economic 
Survey,"  or  some  name  that  would  include  the  idea  of  a 
Department  of  Commerce. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Pratt  yesterday,  I  appointed 
Mr.  Brent  S.  Drane  of  Charlotte  to  succeed  him.  Mr. 
Drane  was  with  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  for 
some  fifteen  years  after  graduating  from  the  University  of 
this  State.  He  is  educated  and  highly  trained  in  the  pro- 
fessional work  required  of  the  Department,  and  in  addition 
to  this,  is  one  of  the  finest  boomers  in  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  Charlotte.  He  was  at  one  time  chairman  of 
the  school  board  of  the  city  of  Charlotte,  and  is  an  aggres- 
sive and  capable  business  man.  I  am  satisfied  that  he  is 
ideally  fitted  not  only  to  perform  the  technical  and  pro- 
fessional work  and  studies  of  this  Department,  but  he  is  as 
well  qualified  as  any  man  who  can  be  found  to  head  the 
Department  of  Commerce. 

This  enlargement  of  the  duty  of  this  board  can  be  made 
without  any  additional  expense  to  the  State.  The  appro- 
priation made  to  it,  in  my  judgment,  is  approximately  suffi- 
cient to  discharge  not  only  the  duties  now  performed,  but 
to  put  on  it  a  little  more  of  the  work  of  a  strictly  Depart- 
ment of  Commerce. 

The  Department  of  Commerce  cannot  intelligently 
function  without  the  information  about  the  State  which  the 
Geological  and  Economic  Survey  has,  and  which  they  are 
authorized  to  acquire  as  extensively  as  possible. 

I  cannot  see  why  any  one  would  object  to  converting 
this  body  into  a  Department  of  Commerce,  and  require  it  to 


Statements  and  Interviews  259 

do  what  can  be  done  to  advertise  and  make  available  for 
popular  use  the  abundant  data  about  the  actual  resources  of 
this  State  which  It  has  already  compiled,  and  which  It  Is 
adding  to  by  study  all  the  time. 


THE    DISMEMBERMENT    OF    THE    CAPE    FEAR 
AND  YADKIN  VALLEY  RAILROAD 

MARCH  21,  1924 

The  utterance  of  the  Republican  State  Platform  upon 
the  subject  of  the  dismemberment  of  the  Cape  Fear  and 
Yadkin  Railroad  ^  Is  most  unfortunate  at  this  time.  I  am 
astounded  that  the  Republicans,  evidently  opposed  to  the 
dismemberment  of  the  road,  should  have  declared  against 
the  State  in  the  suit  now  pending  before  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State.  They  say  the  road  was  dismembered  under  a 
legislative  grant  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina. 
If  they  are  right  about  this,  then  our  fight  against  the 
dismemberment  of  the  road  is  futile,  and  we  will  lose  our 
case. 

It  is  not  true  that  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Railroad  was 
dismembered  under  any  grant  of  authority  from  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  State.  It  was  not  dismembered  under  any 
legal  authority.  Judge  Simonton's  decree  of  sale  did  not 
authorize  its  dismemberment.  It  was  sold  as  a  whole.  The 
purchasers  divided  the  road.  For  a  long  time  it  was  thought 
the  division  was  made  under  the  authority  of  Judge  Simon- 
ton's  judgment.  For  a  long  time  efforts  were  made  to  get 
the  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  to  authorize 
the  Institution  of  an  action  in  the  Federal  Court  to  annul 
the  dismemberment.  The  authority  could  never  be  ob- 
tained. 

After  hearing  the  contentions  of  the  parties  presented 
to  the  General  Assembly,  I  requested,  and,  so  far  as  I  had 
the  power,  directed  Attorney  General  Manning  to  bring  a 
suit  In  the  State  court  to  annul  the  dismemberment  and 


1  This  suit  has  never  been  settled.    See  footnote  on  page  ( 


260  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

partition  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Railroad.  I  did 
not  believe  it  was  dismembered  by  any  legal  authority.  It 
was  a  matter  for  our  own  courts  to  determine. 

The  holders  of  the  dismembered  parts  of  the  road  now 
come  into  court  and  plead  authority  under  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly,  In  these  acts  of  our  General  Assembly 
there  is  no  reference  to  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Railroad 
whatsoever.  The  roads  claim  that  certain  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly  gave  them  the  power  to  do  what  they 
did.  If  the  legislature  gave  any  such  power,  they  did  not 
know  it,  and  I  am  satisfied  no  such  authority  is  found  under 
the  acts  which  the  railroads  claim  to  have  acted  under. 

It  is  not  proper  for  me  to  discuss  this  matter,  as  it  is 
pending  in  court,  but  I  cannot  let  this  declaration  of  the 
Republican  party  go  unchallenged.  The  case  is  now 
pending,  and  will  be  argued  next  week.  It  is  not  now  a 
matter  which  can  be  properly  discussed. 

I  have  associated  the  Hon.  A.  L.  Brooks  of  Greensboro 
with  Judge  Manning.  Mr.  Brooks  knows  more  about  the 
facts  in  connection  with  this  dismemberment  than  anybody 
else  in  the  State.  I  did  not  associate  Mr.  Brooks  at  first  in 
this  case  because  I  feared  he  was  not  in  harmony  with  my 
determination  to  have  our  own  Supreme  Court  say  whether 
the  dismemberment  was  legal  or  illegal.  I  knew  Mr.  Brooks 
had  done  his  best  to  get  the  Attorney  General  of  the  United 
States  to  authorize  suit  in  the  Federal  Court,  but  I  found 
in  my  first  interview  with  Mr.  Brooks  that  he  was  in  entire 
accord  with  my  action. 

He  and  Judge  Manning  are  prepared  in  the  case,  and  will 
present  it  to  the  Supreme  Court  next  week.  If  the  Supreme 
Court  of  North  Carolina  says  that  the  dismemberment 
of  this  road  was  done  lawfully,  then  we  are  helpless  in  the 
matter;  if  it  was  done  illegally,  then  all  the  power  of  the 
government  of  this  State  will  be  wielded  to  undo  the  wrong. 

I  would  not  hesitate  to  call  the  General  Assembly 
into  extraordinary  session,  if  the  Council  of  State  would 
permit  me,  to  authorize  the  purchase  of  the  Cape  Fear 
and  Yadkin  Railroad,  and  make  certain  that  it  was  forever 
kept  an  independent  road. 


Statements  and  Interviews  261 

I  am  satisfied  a  fair  consideration  of  the  whole  record 
will  show  that  this  road  was  dismembered  without  any 
authority  of  law  whatsoever.  The  acts  of  the  General 
Assembly  under  which  they  claim  to  have  acted  gave  no 
such  authority  as  was  exercised. 

Judge  Manning,  Attorney  General,  is  a  truly  great  lawyer, 
and  when  I  asked  him  to  institute  the  suit  in  the  State 
court,  he  expressed  the  opinion  that  this  was  the  only 
course  open  to  us  and  that  we  ought  to  win  it.  He  is  now 
most  hopeful  of  victory. 

If  we  are  successful  in  the  case,  I  promise  quick  action 
to  protect  the  State. 


MAY  CALL  AN  EXTRA  SESSION  OF  THE 
GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

JUNE  2,  1924 

I  have  definitely  decided  that  if  the  Council  of  State 
will  advise  and  consent  thereto,  I  will  call  at  an  early 
date  an  extraordinary  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  urge  the  enactment  of  the  necessary  legislation  for  the 
development  of  water  carried  commerce,  and  name  a 
commission  to  have  charge  of  the  whole  matter,  so  the 
people  will  have  full  information  as  to  who  is  to  administer 
the  law  and  spend  the  money  contemplated  by  the  develop- 
ment, but  not  to  be  operative  unless  approved  by  a  majority 
of  the  voters  at  the  next  general  election. 

I  have  recognized  all  the  while  that  this  proposition  is 
one  of  great  magnitude,  and  I  have  sympathized  with  those 
who  feared  the  investment  of  such  a  large  sum  of  money 
without  being  assured  of  popular  approval. 

I  believe  the  fair,  and  in  the  long  run,  wise  thing  is  to 
enact  the  necessary  legislation,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  people  of  the  State.  It  can  never  be  successful 
without  the  approval  of  the  people,  and,  deeply  convinced 
as  I  am,  of  the  wisdom  and  justice  of  the  measure,  I  recog- 
nize that  this  is  a  government  by  the  people,  and  I  think 


262  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

that  a  movement  of  such  magnitude  should  not  be  under- 
taken without  their  approval. 

I  am  confident  that  the  people  of  the  State  do  favor 
the  development  of  our  waterways  and  the  setting  up  of 
water  competition  with  rail  transportation.  I  am  quite 
confident  that  the  measure  can  be  fully  presented  to  the 
people,  and  when  they  understand  it,  I  am  fully  confident 
of  the  result. 

But  if  I  am  wrong  about  this,  after  all  it  is  the  business 
of  the  people,  and  finally  would  be  determined  by  them. 
This  will  avoid  political  difiiculties  which  might  accompany 
direct  and  final  action  of  the  General  Assembly. 


MR.  HENRY  TO  STUDY  THE  LEAGUE  OF  NATIONS 

AUGUST  22,  1924 

It  is  not  true  that  Mr.  Henry  ^  has  any  commission  from 
me  undertaking  to  connect  him  with  the  League  of  Nations. 
The  sensational  trash  being  circulated  over  the  country, 
based  on  that  interpretation  of  my  simply  giving  Mr. 
Henry  a  commission  to  study  as  a  commissioner  for  North 
Carolina  the  League  of  Nations,  is  ridiculous.  Mr.  Henry 
is  a  gentleman  of  great  dignity  and  fine  personality  and  I 
am  quite  sure  he  has  only  presented  himself  in  a  becoming 
manner  as  one  interested  in  the  study  of  the  League  of 
Nations.  Knowing  the  man  as  I  do,  and  his  fine  sense  of 
propriety,  I  am  quite  sure  he  has  not  done  anything  unbe- 
coming or  which  warrants  such  foolishness  as  is  being 
circulated.  The  commission  he  bears  is  not  addressed  to 
the  League  of  Nations,  but  is  simply  a  general  appoint- 
ment of  him  to  study  that  great  subject. 

He  is  doing  it  without  any  cost  whatsoever  to  North 
Carolina,  and  when  he  returns  I  am  satisfied  the  people  of 
the  State  will  be  treated  to  one  of  the  most  elucidating  and 
reliable  reports  upon  the  study  of  the  League  of  Nations. 


iPhilip  S.  Henry  of  Asheville. 


Statements  and  Interviews  263 

OPPOSITION  TO  HIS  WATER  TRANS- 
PORTATION BILL 

NOVEMBER  1,  1924 

The  scurrilous  telegram  received  by  me,  signed  by  Fred 
N.  Tate  and  J.  T.  Ryan  of  High  Point,  cannot  be  dignified 
by  a  direct  reply  to  them  The  insulting  character  of  that 
communication  makes  it  impossible. 

Authority  for  the  statement  that  the  furniture  people 
were  opposing  this  measure  because  of  favorable  rates 
which  they  had  succeeded  in  securing  is  established  by  the 
following : 

In  a  special  to  the  Greensboro  Record,  the  issue  of  Friday, 
September  19,  from  High  Point,  the  following  appeared : 

J.  T.  Ryan,  traffic  expert  of  High  Point,  will  oppose  Governor  Mor- 
rison's Port  Bill,  it  was  learned  here  Thursday  afternoon.  Interference 
with  the  status  quo  is  said  to  be  the  basis  of  Mr,  Ryan's  opposition. 
Fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago,  it  was  stated  yesterday,  Mr.  Ryan  secured 
certain  railroad  rate  concessions  that  were  very  favorable  to  furniture 
shippers,  and  it  is  feared  that  the  Southern  may  abolish  or  modify  these 
rates  in  case  Governor  Morrison's  Port  Bill  is  adopted  in  the  state- 
wide referendum  to  be  held  in  November. 

In  the  Greensboro  Record  of  September  26th,  in  a  news 
article  reporting  a  discussion  between  Senator  Mendenhall 
and  Mr.  Ryan,  the  following  statement  is  made: 

Mr.  Ryan's  opposition  to  the  bill  lies  in  his  fear  that  the  railroads,  if 
the  measure  is  adopted  by  the  people,  will  withdraw  certain  favorable 
rates  extended  the  furniture  manufacturers  of  High  Point  and  Thomas- 
ville,  rates  that  have  done  much  to  encourage  the  industry. 

I  was  in  Charlotte  some  weeks  ago,  the  date  I  do  not 
remember,  when  I  met  a  prominent  gentleman  connected 
with  the  furniture  industry.  He  told  me  they  were  having 
a  meeting  there  then  about  the  port  bill,  that  Mr.  Ryan, 
their  freight  expert,  was  advising  them  to  oppose  it  because 
it  might  interfere  with  their  commodity  rates. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  quoted  in  other  papers  as  saying  that 
some  sixteen  years  ago  the  furniture  people  succeeded  in 


264  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

getting  an  adjustment  of  their  freight  rates  of  the  railroads 
upon  which  the  furniture  industry  had  been  built. 

I  am  truly  glad  that  the  furniture  industry  and  the 
tobacco  industry  both  enjoy  commodity  rates  upon  a  large 
part  of  their  products,  but  my  heart  is  with  the  great  mass 
of  people  of  the  State  who  are  under  the  general  classifica- 
tions, and  I  think  those  who  enjoy  such  favorable  treat- 
ment from  the  railroads  are  making  a  great  mistake  to  in- 
sist that  freight  rates  in  this  State  are  now  satisfactory, 
when  as  a  matter  of  fact  if  the  cotton  manufacturers,  the 
tobacco  manufacturers,  and  the  furniture  manufacturing 
industries  had  to  pay  the  general  classification  rates  they 
could  not  exist. 

The  meeting  held  in  Winston  a  few  days  ago,  in  point 
of  personnel  and  character,  could  not  be  excelled  by  any 
gathering  that  could  be  brought  together  in  the  State. 
Many  of  the  gentlemen  are  owners  of  railroad  stocks, 
enjoyers  of  commodity  rates  for  the  products  which  they 
manufacture,   and  owners  of  short-line  railroads. 

Some  of  these  men  are  among  my  warmest  personal  and 
political  friends,  but  I  do  not  think  it  unfair  argument  to 
make  the  point  that  they  are  not  disinterested  and  that 
their  opposition  to  the  port  bill  may  be  influenced  by  their 
environment  and  interest  and  the  fact  that  the  general 
classification  of  freight  rates  does  not  apply  to  their  business. 

As  to  Mr.  Robert  N.  Page  and  my  so-called  attack 
upon  him,  I  desire  to  say  that  I  know  few  men  for  whom  I 
have  a  higher  personal  esteem,  but  Mr.  Page  was  raised  up 
in  the  railroad  business.  For  a  long  time  he  and  his  family 
owned  and  operated  a  railroad.  In  other  fights  between 
the  people  and  the  railroads,  Mr.  Page  has  been  on  the 
railroad  side.  I  do  not  consider  Mr.  Page  an  Impartial 
judge  where  the  railroads  are  concerned,  nor  do  I  consider 
his  judgment  about  the  matter  equal  to  the  fourteen  men 
who,  under  oath,  investigated  this  whole  proposition  for 
the  State.  Their  personal  and  business  standing  is  equal 
to  his.  T.  M.  Miller,  chairman;  D.  D.  Carroll,  Emmett  H. 
Bellamy,  J.  A.  Brown,  J.  Y.  Joyner,  W.  A.  Hart,  A.  M. 
Scales,  Chas.  S.  Wallace,  and  Chas.  E.  Waddell  composed 


Statements  and  Interviews  265 

the  Commission.  They  found  the  facts.  I  believe  they 
found  them  truly.  No  man  in  this  campaign  has  success- 
fully refuted  any  facts  found  by  them. 

I  have  not  at  any  time  during  this  campaign  transcended 
the  proprieties  of  debate,  but  I  have  boldly  pointed  out 
the  interest  of  gentlemen  and  the  bias  of  gentlemen  where 
I  knew  it  existed,  who  were  fighting  the  measure.  I  know 
the  influence  leading  the  fight  against  the  bill  in  this  State. 
Many  of  my  friends  are  in  it.  I  know  their  business 
connections. 

I  know  a  great  many  of  them  are  bankers  who  have 
deposits  from  the  railroads,  manufacturers  who  have 
commodity,  special  rates,  owners  of  short-line  railroads, 
large  owners  of  railroad  stocks,  and  I  think  many  of  them 
are  unconsciously  influenced  by  self-interest  to  oppose  this 
measure. 

I  am  prepared  with  names  and  facts,  and  if  the  gentlemen 
desire  to  push  the  matter  I  am  prepared  to  establish  that 
the  leaders  in  this  fight,  including  my  very  dear  friend, 
Governor  Doughton,  Mr.  Page  and  others,  have  had  en- 
vironments that  give  them  railroad  leanings,  and  if  the 
gentlemen  take  offense  at  my  pointing  out  these  facts,  I 
am  sorry,  but  the  people  are  entitled  to  know  the  facts. 

I  do  not  think  it  is  a  reflection  upon  a  man  that  he  is 
interested  in  railroads,  but  I  do  think  it  is  a  reason  why  he 
should  not  be  viewed  as  a  disinterested  adviser  of  the 
people  when  he  undertakes  to  oppose  the  destruction  of 
railroad  monopoly  in  transportation  and  the  establishment 
of  water  competition. 

The  chickens  of  North  Carolina  had  as  well  consult  the 
foxes  about  where  to  roost  as  for  the  people  to  consult  the 
group  assembled  at  Winston-Salem  the  other  day  about 
what  to  do  to  cheapen  transportation  charges  in  this  State. 
Some  of  my  good  friends  from  High  Point  were  there,  who 
own  a  short-line  railroad.  I  noticed  a  telegram  from  a 
gentleman  in  Duplin  County  to  the  meeting  regretting  his 
inability  to  be  present,  who  is,  or  has  been  until  right 
recently,  the  owner  of  310,000  worth  of  railroad  stock;  one 
from  a  gentleman  in  Scotland  County  whose  family  owns 


266  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

two  short-line  railroads.  They  are  both  very  fine  men  and 
good  friends  of  mine,  splendid  citizens,  but  I  fear  they  are 
not  unprejudiced  upon  this  matter  on  account  of  self- 
interest. 

A  great  many  of  those  gentlemen  are  heavy  stockholders 
and  owners  of  railroad  stocks,  are  collectors  of  the  unjust 
freight  rates  being  paid  in  this  State.  They  are  much  more 
afraid  of  losing  the  freight  rates  which  they  are  collecting 
on  their  railroad  stock  than  they  are  of  any  tax  they  will 
ever  have  to  pay  in  connection  with  this  matter. 

I  have  no  earthly  feeling  against  any  of  the  gentlemen 
whose  disinterestedness  in  this  campaign  I  have  questioned. 
I  think  they  have  made  a  great  mistake  to  fight  this  move- 
ment to  establish  a  maritime  business  over  the  waters  of  our 
State,  and  especially  do  I  condemn  those  who,  having 
secured  relief  for  themselves,  desert  the  great  mass  who 
have  not. 

We  must  stand  firm  and  work  until  sundown  Tuesday 
and  a  great  victory  for  progress  is  certain. 

I  am  absolutely  confident.  The  people  are  determined 
everywhere  and  cannot  be  diverted  from  their  purpose  to 
win  equality  of  opportunity  for  the  State. 

We  must  destroy  railroad  monopoly  in  transportation 
and  establish  transportation  competition. 

I  appeal  to  the  Progressives  of  the  State  to  go  to  the 
polls  Tuesday  and  complete  their  progressive  program  for 
a  greater  North  Carolina. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


WATER  TRANSPORTATION  BILL  DEFEATED 

NOVEMBER  6,  1924 

It  now  looks  as  if  the  Port  and  Water-carried  Commerce 
Development  Bill  has  been  defeated.  It  is  close,  but  I 
feel  that  the  final  count  will  disclose  a  small  majority 
against  it. 


Statements  and  Interviews  267 

When  I  was  running  for  Governor  against  Mr.  Gardner 
and  Mr.  Page,  I  promised  the  people,  in  a  prepared  and 
signed  statement  addressed  to  the  Just  Freight  Rates 
Association,  to  do  all  that  I  could  to  establish  just  freight 
rates  for  this  State.  Of  course,  there  is  no  other  way  to 
do  it  except  by  the  development  of  water  competition. 
I  have  done  all  I  could  to  keep  my  pledge. 

The  greatest  thing  which  can  be  done  for  North  Carolina 
in  the  future  is  the  development  and  utilization  of  our 
waterways  for  purposes  of  transportation.  It  will  be  done, 
I  have  no  doubt,  in  the  course  of  time. 

The  matter  was  not  considered  altogether  upon  its  merits. 
I  did  my  best  to  keep  it  out  of  politics,  but  this  could  not 
be   done   altogether .  in   a   general   election. 

North  Carolina  will  not  long  be  content  to  pay  enormous- 
ly, as  it  will  do  in  every  rivers  and  harbors  bill  passed  by 
Congress,  for  the  development  of  the  waterways  in  other 
states,  and  let  North  Carolina's  waterways  go  undeveloped 
and  unutilized. 

This  election  has  caused  consideration  of  the  matter  in 
the  State,  and  if  it  has  the  merit  which  I  verily  believe  the 
measure  has,  it  will  live  and  triumph  yet. 

Progressive  propositions  are  usually  defeated  at  first,  and 
we  must  not  be  discouraged,  keen  as  our  disappointment 
is  in  this  matter. 


ORAL  ARGUMENTS  OR  PETITIONS  FOR  PARDONS 

DECEMBER  15,  1924 

Governor  Morrison  announced  this  afternoon  that  after 
today  he  would  not  hear  oral  arguments  or  see  people  in 
pardon  cases  until  after  Christmas,  and  possibly  not  again 
during  his  term,  except  in  the  capital  cases  now  before  him. 

The  Governor  stated  that  all  parties  interested  in  pardon 
cases  would  be  notified  to  file  briefs  and  documents  per- 
taining to  the  various  cases  before  him,  and  they  would  be 
given  every  possible  consideration,  but  that  incident  to 
going  out  of  office  imperative  official  duties  would  make  it 


268  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

impossible  for  him  to  continue  to  give  his  entire  time,  as  he 
has  been  doing  for  three  weeks  now,  to  hearing  pardon 
cases. 

In  any  cases  that  the  Governor  feels  he  should  see  parties 
interested,  he  will  ask  upon  his  own  motion  that  they  come 
before  him;  otherwise,  he  will  not  hear  people  under  any 
circumstances. 

This  course  is  rendered  absolutely  necessary  as  there  are 
other  important  duties  of  the  Governor's  office  which  must 
have  attention  during  the  last  few  weeks  he  is  in  office. 


CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT  LIMITING  THE 
STATE'S  INDEBTEDNESS  AND  CREAT- 
ING THE  AMORTIZATION  FUND 

Governor  Morrison  favors  setting  up  a  redemption  or 
amortization  fund  to  pay  the  State's  indebtedness,  provided 
the  fund  can  be  protected  by  a  constitutional  amendment 
prohibiting  any  future  General  Assembly  from  appropriating 
the  fund  to  any  other  purpose  than  the  payment  of  the 
State's  indebtedness. 

It  became  known  today  that  he  had  requested  Attorney 
General  Manning  in  connection  with  the  constitutional 
amendment  limiting  the  State's  indebtedness,  to  prepare  an 
act  for  the  General  Assembly  with  a  constitutional  amend- 
ment safeguarding  the  plan  when  adopted  by  the  General 
Assembly. 

The  Governor  thinks  the  yield  from  the  present  revenue 
bill  and  from  the  automobile  and  gasoline  taxes  will  easily 
justify  the  extraction  of,  say,  3250,000  from  the  general 
revenue  of  the  State,  and  3250,000  from  the  automobile 
and  license  taxes,  to  be  placed  in  a  redemption  or  amortiza- 
tion fund.  He  has  become  convinced  that  this  would  not 
in  the  slightest  embarrass  the  revenues  of  the  State.  The 
figures  used  are  merely  to  illustrate,  but  a  sum  somewhere 
around  that  will  easily  do  the  work  of  redemption. 


Statements  and  Interviews  269 

He  has  asked  Dr.  Carroll,  dean  of  the  Commerce  Depart- 
ment of  the  University,  and  Dr.  E.  C.  Branson  to  work 
up  a  mathematically  perfect  amortization  proposition  on 
the  principle  of  one-half  of  the  fund  to  come  from  the 
general  revenue  of  the  State,  and  the  other  half  from  the 
automobile  and  licenses  tax. 

Dr.  Carroll  and  Dr.  Branson  will  meet  with  the  Governor 
tomorrow,  and  General  Nash  is  already  at  work  on  the  act 
and  the  constitutional  amendment 


SHIP  CORPORATION  TO  GO  TO  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY  AND  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF 
THE  STATE 

I  cannot  at  this  time  present  to  the  State  the  argument 
in  favor  of  the  ship  corporation  which  I  have  proposed. 
In  due  time  I  expect  to  present  the  situation  to  the  people 
of  the  State  and  to  the  General  Assembly.  I  do  hope  the 
people  of  the  State  will  withhold  any  adverse  judgment 
until  they  are  made  acquainted  with  the  exact  condition 
which  confronts  the  State. 

There  need  be  no  alarm  about  a  great  amount  of  money 
being  expended.  Ships  are  being  sold  by  the  United  States 
government  at  prices  never  before  heard  of.  I  notice  some 
gentleman  suggesting  that  it  would  take  five  millions  of 
dollars.  We  would  be  unable  to  use  five  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  ships  and  other  equipment  at  present  prices.  I 
am  satisfied  the  corporation  can  be  organized  and  put  m 
operation  with  an  increased  interest  charge  on  the  State  of 
not  in  excess  of  370,000  per  year.  The  ships  can  be  operated 
not  only  at  a  profit,  but  at  a  great  profit  if  the  people  will 
only  patronize  them.  I  am  satisfied  when  the  people 
know  the  facts  and  how  vital  to  the  future  growth  and 
prosperity  of  this  State  such  a  shipping  company  is,  they 
will  give  the  necessary  patronage.  It  cannot  fail  if  they 
will  do  so.  If  we  should  go  into  it,  and  the  people  would  not 
patronize  it,  and  it  had  to  go  down  or  be  run  at  a  loss,  we 


270  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

could  quit  without  much  loss.  We  expect  to  organize  the 
people  of  the  State  not  only  to  construct  and  operate  the 
company,  but  to  patronize  it  sufficiently  to  make  it  a 
success,  and  If  they  will.  It  will  save  the  people  of  the  State 
more  money,  and  be  worth  more  to  the  business  of  the 
State  annually  than  the  entire  tax  paid  for  purposes  of 
State  government. 

The  great  chain  of  inland  waterways  In  Eastern  North 
Carolina  constitutes  the  finest  body  of  Inland  waterways 
In  America.  Under  the  present  law,  as  Interpreted  by  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  they  are  of  little  value 
to  us  as  freight  rate  basic  points  because  they  are  not  used 
for  shipping  purposes. 

There  will  be  direct  and  immediate  benefit  to  at  least 
thirty-five  of  the  one  hundred  counties  of  the  State,  and 
Incidentally,  benefit  will  be  radiated  to  all  the  other  counties. 
Freight  rates  are  based  on  rates  to  a  few  basic  points, 
plus  the  local  rate  from  such  points  to  the  destination  of 
the  freight.  Our  present  freight  rates  are  largely  based  on 
Virginia  cities'  rates,  plus  the  local,  and  thereby  we  are 
commercial  bondmen  to  them. 


J.  W.  BAILEY'S  ATTACK  ON  THE  APPOINTMENT 
OF  A.  D.  WATTS 

I  herewith  hand  the  public  a  letter  which  Mr.  J.  W. 
Bailey  wrote  me  urging  the  appointment  of  Colonel 
A.  D.  Watts  as  Tax  Commissioner.  At  the  time  this  letter 
was  written,  and  when  I  appointed  Colonel  Watts,  Mr. 
Bailey  was  probably  closer  to  me  than  any  other  public 
man  in  the  State,  and  at  that  time,  I  regarded  him  as  one 
of  my  most  valuable  advisers  and  devoted  friends. 

When  Mr.  Bailey  wrote  this  letter,  he  knew  Colonel 
Watts  well;  they  were  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  political 
methods  of  each  other,  and  for  a  long  time  had  been  as  close 
together  politically  as  any  two  men  In  North  Carolina.  He 
assails  Colonel  Watts  most  mercilessly  now. 


Statements  and  Interviews  271 

If  I  erred  In  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Watts,  Mr. 
Bailey  is  the  last  man  on  this  earth  who  ought  to  attempt 
to  create  prejudice  against  my  administration  on  account 
of  that  error. 

I  am  satisfied  now  that  Colonel  Watts  is  just  as  honest 
as  Mr.  Bailey  told  me  he  was  In  his  letter  herewith  given 
the  public. 

It  is  true  that  Colonel  Watts  has  the  power  to  value 
railroad  property  for  taxation  under  the  revenue  bill.  He 
stated  at  the  time  he  discovered  that  this  power  was  in  him 
that  it  ought  not  to  be  so,  and  that  he  would  earnestly 
seek  to  have  the  law  amended  so  that  the  full  responsibility 
would  not  be  upon  him.  However,  this  much  is  true,  that 
he  so  exercised  this  power  that  all  the  principal  railroads  In 
the  State  are  fighting  valuations  fixed  by  him  In  the  courts, 
and  are  resisting  paying  the  taxes.  Whatever  power  he 
has  seems  to  have  been  exercised  for  the  people,  and  not 
corruptly  against  them. 

Mr.  Bailey  opposed  the  constitutional  amendment  under 
which  we  were  able  to  levy  an  income  tax  upon  unearned, 
as  well  as  upon  earned  Incomes  in  the  State.  His  views 
were  defeated  by  175,000  majority  In  the  State.  It  ought 
to  have  been  sufficient  to  persuade  him  to  subside  on  the 
subject  of  taxation. 

Colonel  Watts  stood  with  the  people  for  this  righteous  and 
just  measure.  The  great  political  power  which  he  wielded 
In  the  State  was.  In  this  Instance,  used  for  those  who  had  to 
work  for  the  incomes  taxed,  and  for  the  great  mass  of  the 
small  property  owners  of  the  State  who  were  bearing  heavy 
burdens.  Mr.  Bailey  was  against  the  masses  upon  this  sub- 
ject. No  man  In  North  Carolina  Is  entitled  to  greater 
credit  for  the  adoption  of  the  present  just  tax  system  than 
A,  D.  Watts;  no  man  Is  entitled  to  less  than  J.  W.  Bailey. 

As  to  corruption  in  primary  elections,  we  have  a  splendid 
corrupt  practice  act,  as  well  as  a  good  primary  law.  The 
corrupt  practice  act  was  drawn  by  the  Hon.  E.  J.  Justice, 
one  of  the  greatest  and  most  sincere  reformers  this  State 
ever  produced.  The  act  has  as  many  teeth  in  it  as  Mr. 
Bailey  or  anybody  else  can   Insert.     It  will   not  do  any 


272  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

good  to  pass  any  more  laws,  for  Mr.  Bailey  cannot  bring 
about  the  enactment  of  any  better  one  than  we  now  have. 
If  he  knows  of  any  corruption,  I  am  sure  if  he  will  investi- 
gate it,  he  will  find  the  law  ample  to  punish  it. 


DENYING  ANY  PERSONAL  ATTACK  UPON  THE 
CORPORATION  COMMISSION 

It  is  not  true  that  I  made  any  personal  attack  upon  the 
Corporation  Commission  either  in  my  speech  at  Asheville 
or  at  the  summer  school  at  the  State  College  a  few  days 
ago.  I  do  not  think,  and  never  intimated,  that  the  State 
Corporation  Commission  or  any  member  of  it  is  corruptly 
under  railroad  influence. 

I  did  say,  and  have  been  saying,  that  not  only  the  State 
Corporation  Commissioners  and  other  bodies  charged  with 
the  regulation  of  freight  rates,  but  also  the  rate  experts 
employed  by  chambers  of  commerce  and  traffic  associations, 
have  come  to  favor  railroad  transportation  as  against  any 
other  mode  of  transportation. 

I  do  not  think  this  fact  grows  out  of  corruption,  but 
men  who  have  studied  this  mode  of  transportation  and 
worked  with  it,  and  whose  jobs  are  connected  with  it,  seem 
to  become  friendly  to  it.  Of  the  many  men  that  I  have 
talked  with  about  water  and  surface  road  and  truck  com- 
petition with  railroad  traffic,  I  at  least  thought  I  found  an 
undue  and  almost  inexplicable  partiality  to  railroad  trans- 
portation, and  hostility  to  water  or  truck  and  surface  road 
competition  with  it. 

The  last  General  Assembly  came  in  an  inch  of  conveying 
to  the  Corporation  Commission  the  power  to  regulate  rates 
for  hauling  freight  for  hire  over  the  public  roads  of  our 
State.  I  was  very  hostile  to  this,  and  because  of  the  fact 
that  the  Corporation  Commission  made,  not  a  recommen- 
dation for  it,  but  a  recommendation  that  the  General 
Assembly  should  give  it  serious   consideration,   and   were 


Statements  and  Interviews  273 

generally  understood  as  being  favorable  to  giving  them  the 
power,  I  was  forced  into  combat  with  them. 

I  did  state  that  the  railroads  were  ready  to  run  to  their 
friends,  the  Corporation  Commission,  for  protection  against 
competition  from  the  truck  and  public  road  transporta- 
tion. I  do  not  think  the  Corporation  Commission  and 
their  experts  should  be  allowed  to  influence  the  public 
against  the  development  of  competition  with  railroad 
transportation,  through  water  transportation  and  a  free 
use  by  the  public  of  the  public  roads. 

The  final  safety  of  North  Carolina  against  unjust  intra- 
state freight  rates  is  through  a  free  and  untrammeled  use 
as  far  as  charges  for  transportation  go,  of  the  public  roads 
of  the  State  and  truck  and  other  means  of  transportation 
of  freight  and  passengers,  and  the  only  hope  of  relief 
and  justice  in  the  matter  of  interstate  freight  rates  is  the 
development  of  water  transportation  in  the  thirty-odd 
counties  of  the  State  (where  it  can  easily  be  established) 
and  the  use  from  the  water  towns  of  the  public  road  and 
truck  transportation,  free  from  Corporation  Commissioners 
or  other  control. 

I  do  not  understand  the  Corporation  Commission  to  be  in 
accord  with  my  views  on  this  subject,  and  I  have  endeavored 
to  combat  their  influence  in  the  matter,  but  at  no  time 
have  I  consciously  said  anything  reflecting  upon  the 
integrity  of  any  one  of  them.  Two  of  the  three  are  my 
friends,  or  have  been,  and  I  am  theirs,  but  I  am  in  pro- 
nounced disagreement  with  them  upon  the  proper  policy  for 
the  State  to  pursue  in  regard  to  building  up  and  maintaining 
water  and  surface  road  and  truck  competition  with  the  rail- 
roads. If  I  have  seemed  at  any  time  to  transcend  the 
proprieties  in  debate  and  make  any  reflection  upon  the 
integrity  of  any  one  of  them,  it  was  certainly  far  from 
my  intention;  but  I  will  fight  to  the  limit  any  effort  to 
confer  upon  anybody  the  right  to  regulate  charges  upon 
the  public  roads  of  this  State  for  hauling  freight  and 
passengers. 

Of  course,  I  do  not  object,  but  favor  proper  police  regula- 
tions to  protect  the  roads,  and  fair  and  just  taxation,  but 

18 


274  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

this  is  a  very  diflPerent  matter  from  allowing  any  body  of 
men  to  impose  restrictions  and  fix  charges  upon  carrying 
freight  and  passengers  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  rail- 
roads against  the  competition  of  the  surface  road  and  truck 
transportation,  which  is  so  valuable  to  the  people  of  the 
State,  and  which,  coupled  with  the  development  of  water 
transportation,  means  more  to  North  Carolina  than  any- 
thing the  State  Corporation  Commission  has  power  to 
accomplish  for  us. 

The  State  Corporation  Commission  is  charged  with 
certain  duties  with  reference  to  freight  rates  upon  the  rail- 
roads of  the  State.  I  have  made  no  criticism  of  them  in 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  discharging  their  duty,  but 
when  they  allow  their  influence  to  be  thrown  in  favor  of 
stifling  competition  from  the  surface  road  and  truck  trans- 
portation and  against  the  development  of  commerce  over 
our  unrivaled  waterways,  they  can  very  easily  hurt  the 
State  a  great  deal  more  than  they  can  do  it  good. 

It  would  be  much  better  to  abolish  the  State  Corporation 
Commission  altogether,  and  without  restriction  develop 
competition  for  the  railroads  over  our  waterways  and  over 
our  good  roads  than  to  keep  the  Corporation  Commission 
and  permit  it  to  lead  or  back  up  with  the  influence  of  their 
great  position  the  fight  against  the  development  of  our 
waterways  and  truck  and  public  road  competition. 


PUBLIC  LETTERS  AND  TELEGRAMS 


PUBLIC  LETTERS  AND  TELEGRAMS 

Sanatorium,  N.  C,  May  18,  1922. 

To  His  Excellency, 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 

Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
My  dear  Governor;     It  gives  me  pleasure  to  transmit 
herewith  copy  of  resolution  passed  by  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  state  of  North  Carolina  at  its  last  annual  session, 
April  26,  at  Winston-Salem  in  regard  to  the  needs,  etc., 
of  a  medical  college  in  our  State  giving  the  third  and  fourth 
years,  and  also  copy  of  resolution  endorsing  the  Governor's 
"Live  at  Home"  campaign. 
With  appreciation  and  esteem,  I  am. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

L.  B.  McBrayer, 
Secretary-Treasurer. 

Winston-Salem,  April  26,  1922. 

The  following  resolutions  ^  offered  by  Dr.  Cyrus  Thomp- 
son were  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
heartily  thank  Dr.  L  M.  Manning  for  bringing  the  matter  of  North 
Carolina's  need  of  a  medical  college  to  our  attention,  and  that  we 
heartily  endorse  every  movement  looking  toward  the  consummation 
of  this  end  and  that  we  urge  the  serious  consideration  of  this  matter 
by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina. 

Resolved,  That  we  most  heartily  endorse  the  "Live  at  Home" 
campaign  of  Governor  Morrison  and  assure  him  that  the  medical 
profession  of  the  State  appreciates  the  splendid  work  he  is  doing  along 
this  particular  line  and  desires  to  offer  its  hearty  cooperation. 


iThese  extracts  were  taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  annual  session  of  the  Medical  Society  of  N  orth 
Carolina,  and  enclosed  to  Governor  Morrison  by  Dr.  L.  B.  McBrayer  in  his  letter  of  May  18,  1922. 


278  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

[Telegram] 

Winston-Salem,  N.  C,  April  27,  1922. 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
The  Medical  Society  of  the  state  of  North  Carolina  in 
regular  session  endorses  most  heartily  your  food  and  nutri- 
tion campaign. 

H.  A.  Royster,  President. 
L.  B.  McBrayer,  Secretary. 

[Telegram] 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  18,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Apparently  all  agree  that  every  young  man  who  is  willing 
to  prepare  himself  for  the  defense  of  his  country  should  be 
given  the  opportunity.  To  this  end,  I  suggest  that  you 
bring  to  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  your  State  the 
opportunity  presented  to  them  now  by  the  Citizens  Military 
Training  Camps  which  will  be  conducted  during  the  coming 
summer  without  any  cost  or  military  obligation  to  them- 
selves. The  young  men  accepted  for  these  camps  will  be 
given  training  which  will  be  of  inestimable  value  through 
the  physical  and  mental  development  received  which  will 
unquestionably  increase  their  value  to  the  Nation  and  to 
the  communities  in  which  they  live. 

Warren  G.  Harding. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  279 

[Telegram] 

[May  18,  1922.] 
To  His  Excellency, 

The  Honorable  Warren  G.  Harding, 
President  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
I    have   your   telegram   in    regard    to   military   training 
camps,  and  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  accede  to  your 
request  and  give  the  matter  as  wide  publicity  in  North 
Carolina  as  possible,  with  my  hearty  commendation. 

Cameron  Morrison. 

Rocky  Mount,  N.  C,  July  16,  1922. 

To  His  Excellency,  Cameron  Morrison, 
Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

The  undersigned  mayor  of  the  city  of  Rocky  Mount, 
sheriff  of  Edgecombe  County,  and  sheriif  of  Nash  County 
respectfully  show  to  your  Excellency  that  the  strike  of  the 
employees  of  the  Emerson  Shops  of  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  Railroad  Company  at  South  Rocky  Mount  has,  for  the 
past  several  days,  been  accompanied  by  increasing  disorder, 
culminating  at  midnight  on  Saturday,  July  15,  1922,  in 
an  assault,  by  a  mob  of  approximately  five  hundred  strikers 
and  strike  sympathizers,  upon  fifteen  railroad  guards,  who 
had  been  sworn  in  as  special  policemen  by  the  mayor  of  the 
city  of  Rocky  Mount  and  assigned  to  the  duty  of  protecting 
the  Emerson  Shops  and  terminal  yards  of  said  railroad 
company  at  South  Rocky  Mount,  together  with  railroad 
workmen  assigned  to  duty  in  connection  therewith;  which 
assault  was  followed  by  the  abduction  of  said  special  police- 
men, the  disappearance  of  eight  of  them,  and  the  serious 
injury  to  others. 

And  the  undersigned  further  show  that  the  mayor  and 
police  force  of  the  city  of  Rocky  Mount  have  exhausted 
their  power  in  an  effort  to  deal  with  the  disorders  incident 
to  said  strike,  and  that  the  sheriffs  of  Edgecombe  and  Nash 
counties   have   it  not  within   their  power  to   afford   such 


280  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

efficient  aid  to  the  city  authorities  as  will  assure  the  pro- 
tection of  the  railroad  property  and  its  workmen  assigned 
to  duty  in  said  Emerson  Shops  and  railroad  terminal  yard 
at  South  Rocky  Mount;  and  that  they  verily  believe  that 
there  is  need  for  prompt  drastic  action  by  your  Excellency, 
in  order  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  disorders  of  a  more 
serious  nature  than  those  that  have  heretofore  accompanied 
said  strike. 

Wherefore,  the  undersigned*request  that  your  Excellency 
will  order  that  troops  be  sent  to  Rocky  Mount  for  the 
protection  of  the  workmen  and  property  of  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
supremacy  of  the  law. 

C.  L.  Gay, 

Mayor  of  the  city  of  Rocky  Mount. 

J.  W.  Thomas, 

Sheriff  of  Edgecombe  County. 

J.  L.  CORNWELL, 

Sheriff  of  Nash  County. 
[Telegram] 

Hamlet,  N.  C,  July  17,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Believing  you  would  weigh  justly  both  sides  of  the  labor 
controversy,  I  am  sorry  to  say  from  reports  in  the  evening 
press  that  troops  have  been  ordered  to  different  points  in 
our  State.  If  this  is  true  you  have  violated  your  duty  to 
the  workers  of  North  Carolina. 

Federated  Shop  Crafts. 

Felix  Cannon,  President. 
R.  S.  Mauney,  Secretary. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  281 

[Telegram] 

Hamlet,  N.  C,  July  17,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
We  wish  to  remind  you  that  Richmond  County  is  still  a 
law-abiding  citizenry  and  need  no  State  troops  to  hold  us  in 
due  bounds.     We  will  bitterly  resent  troops  sent  anywhere 
in  this  county. 
Division  435,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

[Telegram] 

Hamlet,  N.  C,  July  17,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison,  Governor, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Be  it  resolved  that  we  advise  Governor  Morrison  that  the 
engines  are  being  run  out  of  Hamlet  in  a  dangerous  condition 
and  in  violation  of  the  law. 
Division  435,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  18,  1922. 

Division  435,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers, 
Hamlet,  N.  C. 
Very  sorry  for  the  temper  of  your  telegram.  None  but 
the  lawless  need  ever  fear  troops  under  my  command.  I  am 
standing  squarely  upon  the  principles  of  my  Concord 
address  and  will  see  that  every  right  of  labor  is  protected  in 
this  State  while  I  am  Governor.  No  good  citizen  need 
fear  the  sight  of  the  uniform  of  his  country's  soldiery  which 
protects  orderly  society.  I  devoutly  hope  it  will  not  be 
necessary  for  me  to  take  military  charge  at  Hamlet,  Rocky 
Mount  or  elsewhere,  but  if  I  do,  only  those  who  want  to 
break  the  law  need  be  worried  about  it.     I  know  the  labor 


282  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

people  of  Hamlet  are  of  the  highest  character  and  finest 
citizenship  and  am  sure  their  influence  will  be  exerted  for 
peace  and  against  a  repetition  of  the  lawless  incidents 
evidence  of  which  has  been  put  before  me 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  18,  1922. 
Felix  Cannon, 

President  of  Federated  Shop  Crafts, 
Hamlet,  N.  C. 
Your  wire  received.  Sorry  you  take  the  view  you  do. 
Troops  under  my  command  will  never  violate  any  right  of 
labor.  I  cannot  conceive  of  as  fine  citizen  as  you  thinking 
I  would  permit  troops  in  any  sense  to  do  you  or  your  cause 
any  injustice.  Sworn  testimony  was  presented  to  me 
showing  conditions  most  deplorable.  Many  incidents  nar- 
rated if  true  I  am  sure  would  not  meet  your  approbation. 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  put  military  forces  in  the  State  in 
such  proximity  to  the  trouble  that  if  necessary  they  could 
be  used;  but  I  want  you  to  understand  even  if  I  send  troops 
to  any  point  nobody  but  the  lawless  need  fear  their  presence. 
I  wish  I  could  see  you  and  talk  with  you  about  the  situation. 
My  own  opinion  is  that  any  exhibition  of  sympathy  on  the 
part  of  the  leaders  of  labor  with  lawlessness  or  any  resent- 
ment of  the  orderly  processes  of  government  is  the  worst 
thing  that  could  happen  for  labor.  There  is  no  important 
principle  contended  for  by  labor  that  I  am  not  ready  to 
defend  and  to  prevent  anybody  violating  in  this  State,  but 
such  lawlessness  as  has  occurred  at  Hamlet  and  Rocky 
Mount  is  not  approved  by  labor.  I  hope  very  much  your 
fine  influence  will  be  exerted  for  order,  and  you  may  rest 
assured  no  troops  will  be  put  into  Hamlet  by  me  except  to 
establish  order  and  protect  life  and  property.  If  sent  there, 
troops  will  uphold  every  legal  right  of  labor. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  283 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  18,  1922. 
J.  F.  Barrett, 
Hamlet,  N.  C. 
Your  wire  received.     You  know  very  well  that  no  legal 
right  of  labor  will  ever  be  trampled  under  foot  by  any 
troops  commanded  by  me.     I  am  standing  squarely  on  the 
principles  of  my  Concord   speech.     I   do  not  understand 
your  attitude  towards  troops.     What  harm  they  will  do  you 
I  cannot  for  the  life  of  me  see.     Under  my  command,  if 
I  do  have  to  use  troops  anywhere,  it  will  be  only  for  the 
protection  of  orderly  society  and  not  impose  on  any  man's 

rights. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

[Telegram] 

[July  18,  1922.] 

Division  435,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers, 
.  Hamlet,  N.  C. 

Your  wire  received.  The  matter  you  refer  to  should  be 
reported  to  civil  authorities.  I  have  no  authority  in  the 
matter  unless  I  should  take  military  charge  of  affairs  at 
Hamlet.  I  am  satisfied  you  good  people  will  not  permit  a 
condition  to  arise  there  making  this  necessary.  I  want  to 
respect  every  right  of  labor,  but  according  to  evidence 
presented  to  me,  there  will  be  trouble  there  unless  cool 
heads  exercise  their  influence  to  prevent  it.  I  am  not  in 
any  sense  hostile  to  any  legal  right  of  labor,  but  we  must 
have  peace  in  North  Carolina,  and  order,  whatever  the 
provocation,  must  not  be  overcome  anywhere. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


284  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 


[Telegram] 

Washington,  D.  C,  July  18,  1922. 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

The  proposal  of  the  Federal  government  to  the  United 
Mine  workers  and  the  various  coal  operators  whose  mines 
are  under  suspension  to  submit  all  questions  in  dispute  to 
a  National  Coal  Commission  for  arbitration  has  been 
declined.  The  mine  workers  declined  as  a  body.  The 
majority  of  the  bituminous  operators  pledged  unqualified 
acceptance.  The  anthracite  operators  filed  unconditional 
acceptance.  A  minority  of  the  bituminous  operators 
accepted  the  principle  of  arbitration  but  made  specifica- 
tions which  could  not  be  considered.  I  had  proposed  that 
the  operators  and  mine  workers  in  dispute  should  immedi- 
ately resume  coal  production  under  the  wage  scales  and 
working  conditions  which  prevailed  at  the  time  of  the 
strike  on  last  April  first,  that  every  question  in  dispute 
should  go  to  a  National  Commission  to  be  composed  of 
three  representatives  of  the  mine  workers,  three  representa- 
tives of  the  operators,  and  five  representatives  of  the 
American  public.  It  was  proposed  to  make  the  Commission 
the  final  authority  on  all  disputes  until  next  March,  and 
meanwhile  the  Commission  was  to  inaugurate  a  searching 
inquiry  into  every  phase  of  the  coal  industry  in  order  to 
recommend  the  way  to  maintain  understanding  between 
workmen  and  employers,  to  promote  steady  employment, 
and  assure  a  continuous  and  ample  fuel  supply.  The  failure 
to  secure  the  acceptance  of  this  proposal  for  a  voluntary 
adjustment  left  me  no  other  course  but  to  invite  the  mine 
operators  to  return  to  their  mines  and  resume  activities. 
I  trust  you  will  find  it  consistent  to  second  this  invitation, 
if  you  have  not  already  done  so,  with  the  invitation  to  all 
miners  and  operators  to  resume  their  work.  This  invita- 
tion should  be  accompanied  by  such  assurance  of  main- 


Letters  and  Telegrams  285 

tained  order  and  the  protection  of  lawful  endeavor  as  will 
give  assurance  to  everybody  concerned. 

I  want  to  convey  to  you  in  this  message  the  assurance  of 
the  prompt  and  full  support  of  the  Federal  government 
whenever  and  wherever  you  find  your  own  agencies  of  law 
and  order  inadequate  to  meet  the  situation.  Your  State 
government  and  the  Federal  government  are  jointly 
responsible  for  maintaining  conditions  under  which  freemen 
willing  to  work  may  work  in  safety.  We  are  responsible  for 
the  production  and  the  transportation  of  a  fuel  supply 
ample  for  the  necessities  of  the  American  people  and  the 
public  utilities  which  serve  them,  particularly  the  railways 
engaged  in  interstate  commerce.  We  must  have  ample 
coal  to  maintain  industrial  activity.  We  must  have  coal 
necessary  to  the  health,  security  and  activity  of  all  the 
people.  I  recite  to  you  these  details  because  it  is  important 
to  have  it  understood  how  far  the  Federal  government  has 
gone  in  seeking  a  voluntary  adjustment.  Thus  far  there 
has  been  no  challenge  of  the  right  of  workers  to  decline 
employment  or  the  right  of  the  employers  to  hire  as  they 
elect.  Our  present  duty  is  to  guarantee  security  in  the 
exercise  of  these  rights,  security  In  all  lawful  operations, 
and  afford  a  safe  opportunity  for  that  production  and  dis- 
tribution demanded  by  the  necessities  of  the  American 
people. 

There  has  been  no  government  assumption  of  a  part  In  the 
dispute  between  organized  workers  and  organized  employers. 
I  did  offer  the  only  available  agency  which  I  know  to  effect 
a  settlement,  and  these  good  offices  have  not  availed.  It 
becomes  necessary  therefore  In  the  name  of  common  wel- 
fare to  invite  production  in  the  fulfillment  of  that  obligation 
which  attaches  to  any  American  industry  engaged  in 
providing  any  public  necessity  and  to  afford  security  to  all 
men  alike  who  are  ready  and  willing  to  work  and  serve  the 
common  need.  No  cause  is  as  important  as  that  of  common 
welfare,  and  there  must  be  the  suppression  of  every  unlaw- 


286  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

ful  hindrance  to  the  service  of  that  cause.  To  the  task  of 
lawful  protection  and  the  maintenance  of  order  the  Federal 
government  pledges  to  you  every  assistance  at  its  command. 

Warren  G.  Harding. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  19,  1922. 

His  Excellency,  Warren  G.  Harding, 

President  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Your  wire  of  yesterday  received  last  night.  There  is 
very  little  mining  in  this  State  and  so  far  as  I  know  there 
are  no  strike  troubles  in  this  industry.  It  would  be  a  vain 
thing  for  me  to  invite  coal  miners  to  return  to  work  in  this 
State,  but  I  would  not  do  so  any  way.  I  am  truly  sorry  that 
a  judgment  long  formed  and  repeatedly  expressed  hereto- 
fore in  my  State  prevents  my  agreeing  with  your  position, 
as  set  forth  in  your  telegram.  I  deem  the  whole  policy 
of  national  and  state  governments  trying  to  adjust  labor 
disputes  unwise.  It  always  forfeits  the  confidence  of  the 
side  to  such  a  controversy  finally  decided  against  by  the 
government  and  creates  suspicion  of  the  impartiality  of  its 
exercise  of  police  power.  I  believe  the  full  duty  of  the 
government  and  the  part  of  wisdom  is  to  uphold  the  law 
with  fearless  impartiality  and  permit  parties  in  industrial 
disputes  to  fight  the  economic  battle  to  a  finish.  Your 
position  is  practically  to  use  the  power  of  the  government 
against  the  strikers,  and  in  the  enforcement  of  police  regula- 
tions and  the  upholding  of  the  law  the  strikers  will  naturally 
have  little  confidence  in  the  impartiality  or  fairness  of 
soldiers  or  other  agencies  of  force  directed  by  a  government 
which  has  taken  a  decided  stand  against  them,  however 
good  the  reasons  for  such  a  stand  may  be.  I  will  elaborate 
my  views  in  a  letter  mailed  today  which  I  earnestly  hope 
you  will  do  me  the  honor  to  read. 

There  will  be  no  trouble  in  North  Carolina  in  upholding 
the  law  in  this  or  any  other  controversy,  and  I  am  quite 
sure  I  will  not  need  Federal  forces  to  aid  me  in  the  position 


Letters  and  Telegrams  287 

I  have  taken  of  non-interference  with  either  side  in  such 
controversies  except  to  uphold  the  law  and  keep  the  peace 
and  protect  every  would-be  worker,  union  or  non-union, 
from  menace,  insult  and  violence.  In  this  position  I  have 
the  united  support  of  practically  the  entire  citizenship  of 
the  State. 

I  deeply  sympathize  with  the  great  burden  of  respon- 
sibility upon  your  shoulders  and  truly  regret  that  I  cannot 
join  you  in  an  invitation  to  the  miners  to  return  to  work, 
which  is  practically  taking  sides  in  the  controversy.  I 
hope  under  no  circumstances  in  this  or  any  other  controversy 
you  will  use  military  force  in  this  State  until  after  con- 
ference with  me.  We  will  not  need  it  as  the  forces  at  my 
command  are  adequate,  and  will  be  used,  to  protect  the 
humblest  laborer,  union  or  non-union,  in  this  State  in  his 
every  legal  right.  If  I  should  be  mistaken  in  this,  although 
I  am  sure  I  am  not,  I  will  instantly  call  upon  you  for  aid. 

With  high  respect  and  every  good  wish, 

Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Aberdeen,  N.  C,  July  19,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Sir:  Early  yesterday  morning,  July  18,  a  company 
of  armed  men,  eight  or  ten  in  number,  in  two  cars  drove  into 
the  town  of  Aberdeen  from  the  direction  of  Hamlet.  They 
seized  and  carried  off  by  force  one  Mr.  Stubbs,  chief  elec- 
trician of  the  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad,  who  was  per- 
forming duty  for  that  road  in  the  capacity  of  car  inspector 
at  Aberdeen.  Upon  his  return  to  Aberdeen  several  hours 
later,  he  reported  that  he  was  carried  some  ten  miles  in  the 
direction  of  Carthage,  that  he  was  told  by  these  men  that 
they  had  intended  beating  him  to  death  and  that  they 
refrained  from  doing  him  bodily  harm  only  because  they 
found  that  he  was  a  fellow-member  of  some  of  them  in 
some  lodge  or  union.     They  warned  him  that  they  would 


288  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

kill  him  if  he  returned  to  his  work  at  Aberdeen,  etc.     He 
left  on  the  first  train  thereafter. 

I  am  advised  by  the  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  that 
they  are  unwilling  and  unable  to  send  car  inspectors  to 
Aberdeen  unless  protection  is  provided  for  them  We  are 
just  at  the  beginning  of  the  peach  movement  from  this 
section  and  within  the  next  two  weeks  six  hundred  to  eight 
hundred  cars  of  peaches  should  be  delivered  to  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line  by  the  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  at  Aber- 
deen. They  also  advise  me  that  inspection  of  these  cars 
at  Aberdeen  is  an  absolute  necessity,  without  which  this 
whole  movement  will  break  down  and  cease.  In  such  case, 
the  loss  of  the  entire  crop  would  ensue,  amounting  in  money 
to  one  and  a  half  million  dollars,  and  a  vital  blow  be  given 
to  the  future  development  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
interesting  industries  in  our  State. 

It  is  altogether  impossible  for  the  town  of  Aberdeen  to 
cope  with  such  a  situation.  I,  therefore,  request  that  you 
exercise  your  authority  and  send  a  sufficient  force  of  the 
State  Guard  to  Aberdeen  at  once  to  protect  these  car  in- 
spectors. 

I  beg  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  peaches 
are  the  most  highly  perishable  of  all  products,  and  delay  or 
interference  with  normal  movement  for  even  one  day 
results  in  total  loss. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Henry  A.  Page,  Mayor  of  Aberdeen. 

[Telegram] 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  July  19,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh^  N.  C. 
Situation  of  this  company's  terminal  at  Rocky  Mount, 
North  Carolina,  has  become  so  acute  due  to  interference  by 
former  employees  who  are  now  on  strike  that  unless  we  are 
given  protection  by  properly  constituted  authorities  con- 
tinuance of  our  operation  will  soon  become  impossible.  The 
police  force  of  the  city  of  Rocky  Mount  is  confessedly  unable 


Letters  and  Telegrams  289 

to  give  us  this  protection  since  the  beginning  of  the  strike 
on  July  first.  This  company  has  been  able  to  continue  its 
operation  through  efforts  of  its  loyal  employees  who  have 
volunteered  to  leave  other  posts  and  to  perform  necessary 
work  in  Rocky  Mount  terminals.  At  the  outset  of  this, 
work  was  conducted  by  these  employees  who  were  protected 
by  private  guards.  By  threats,  by  intimidations,  by  kid- 
naping, by  bodily  harm  and  beatings  the  large  number  of 
strikers  and  their  sympathizers  have  greatly  reduced  and 
depleted  these  forces  until  at  the  present  time  our  shops  are 
closed  down,  our  electric  power  plant  idle,  and  we  have  in 
the  shops  only  five  men,  all  of  whom  are  officers  of  the 
company.  The  strikers  have  made  it  impossible  to  coal 
our  engines  at  Rocky  Mount  and  we  have  been  forced  to 
coal  engines  at  Fayetteville  instead  of  from  Rocky  Mount 
terminals.  Two  of  our  employees  who  volunteered  for 
service  at  Rocky  Mount  from  other  posts  were  demanded 
by  strikers  and  we  have  only  been  able  to  prevent  their 
capture  by  keeping  them  locked  in  a  room  at  one  of  the 
hotels  at  Rocky  Mount.  The  strikers  or  their  sympathizers 
in  large  numbers  have  demanded  the  surrender  of  these 
men  and  have  threatened  and  sought  by  intimidation  to 
learn  their  whereabouts  from  hotel  employees  and  others. 
The  small  remaining  force  of  loyal  employees  who  have 
volunteered  for  the  service  of  making  up  and  inspecting 
trains  is  reduced  to  a  point  where  physical  endurance  can- 
not last  much  longer.  We  have  alreay  placed  an  embargo 
on  all  freight  shipments  moving  to  and  through  Rocky 
Mount  with  the  exception  of  perishables,  livestock,  food 
for  human  consumption  and  coal.  If  we  could  get  proper 
protection  from  duly  constituted  authority  there  would  be 
no  difficulty  in  securing  the  return  of  our  foremen,  who  are 
now  held  out  by  intimidation,  and  necessary  number 
of  workers  to  secure  the  performance  of  our  obligations  as 
a  common  carrier  for  the  people  of  this  and  other  states. 
Unless  we  can  get  such  protection  it  now  seems  probable 
that  we  will  have  to  close  this  important  terminal  and  will 
be  prevented  from  moving  all  necessary  commodities  for 

19 


290  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

our  patrons.  I  therefore  appeal  to  you  as  Governor  of  the 
State  to  give  us  necessary  protection  to  enable  those  loyal 
employees  who  desire  to  work  to  continue  to  serve  the 
company  in  its  operation,  and  thus  to  enable  It  to  continue 
its  public  service  to  the  people  of  this  State, 
J.  R.  Kenly, 

President  A.  C.  L.  Railroad  Co. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  21,  1922. 

His  Excellency,  Warren  G.  Harding, 

President  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

My  dear  Mr.  President:  After  reflection  I  have 
decided  to  invite  your  attention  to  a  proclamation  and  an 
address  which  I  delivered  on  the  occasion  of  having  sent 
troops  to  Concord  in  my  State  to  keep  peace.  I  have 
marked  the  more  pertinent  parts  of  the  speech.  I  cannot 
ask  you  to  read  all  of  this  speech,  as  busy  as  you  are,  but  I 
do  hope  you  will  do  me  the  honor  to  glance  at  It  sufficiently 
to  see  that  my  wire  of  yesterday  was  based  on  the  principles 
therein  declared. 

I  would  not  have  you  think  that  my  wire  of  yesterday 
was  captious  or  partisan  In  any  sense,  for  I  have  the  very 
highest  respect  for  the  motives  actuating  you,  and  realize 
that  you  are  but  carrying  out  the  pohcy  which  the  country 
has  adopted. 

I  think  the  policy  long  pursued,  not  by  your  administra- 
tion alone,  but  by  previous  administrations  as  well,  has 
been  a  failure.  I  earnestly  believe  the  very  foundations 
of  liberty  are  In  danger  by  adherence  to  a  policy  which 
makes  the  government,  Federal  or  State,  undertake  to  adjust 
these  disputes.  I  believe  the  sound  policy  Is  to  stand  for 
absolute  liberty  of  contract,  and  to  protect  it  by  a  sufficient 
exercise  of  the  police  power  of  the  government;  but  please 
be  assured  that  I  only  dlifered  with  you  to  the  extent  my 
wire  does  through  deep  conviction  upon  the  subject. 

I  verily  believe  that  the  fact  that  our  country  from  one 
end  to  the  other  Is  almost  an  armed  camp  today,  full  of 


Letters  and  Telegrams  291 

riot,  bloodshed  and  lawlessness,  is  due  to  the  efforts  of  the 
government  to  adjust  the  industrial  controversies  out  of 
which  that  trouble  grows,   instead  of  bringing  disorderly 
people  to  order  with  such  force  as  is  necessary. 
With  high  esteem  and  great  respect,  I  am, 
Very  truly  yours, 

Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  24,  1922. 
J.  F.  Barrett, 

Charlotte,  N.  C. 
Your  wire  received.  Never  made  any  statement  that  I 
wanted  to  debate  with  anybody,  but  did  say  my  position 
forbade  my  entering  into  controversy  with  anybody,  and 
therefore  I  could  not  debate  the  matter  involved  in  my 
telegram  to  President  Harding  with  the  Raleigh  News 
and  Observer  and  the  Greensboro  News.  The  question  you 
refer  to  is  not  a  debatable  question.  If  the  troops  are  deny- 
ing you  or  those  you  represent  the  right  to  do  anything  you 
want  to  do,  please  let  me  know  at  once  what  it  is,  and  if  it 
is  not  against  the  law,  I  will  see  that  they  are  required  to  let 
you  do  it. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

Washington,  D.  C,  July  24,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Dear  Sir:  I  am  deeply  indebted  to  you  for  your  courte- 
ous compliance  with  my  request  for  copies  of  your  recent 
communications  to  President  Harding  and  your  proclama- 
tion and  address  to  the  people  of  Cabarrus  County  on 
August  19,  1921. 

Permit  me  to  assure  you  of  my  great  appreciation  of 
your  stand  in  this  matter  and  also  my  appreciation  of  your 


292  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

attitude  as  regards  the  rights  of  the  workers  as  set  forth 
in  your  proclamation  and  address  of  August  19,  1921. 
The  workers  ask  no  other  right. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Samuel  Gompers, 
President  American  Federation  of  Labor. 

Washington,  July  24,  1922. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Governor  Morrison:  The  President  asks 
me  to  acknowledge  your  letter  of  July  20th,  and  to  say  that 
he  has  very  hastily  read  the  copy  of  the  address  which  you 
enclosed,  particularly  the  marked  portions  thereof.  I  am 
sure  he  would  want  me  to  say  that  he  has  no  disposition 
to  argue  with  any  one  about  the  method  of  settling  indus- 
trial troubles.  What  the  President  sought  to  do  in  his 
telegram  to  the  governors  of  the  coal  producing  states  was 
to  convey  to  them  a  recital  of  what  he  had  sought  to  do  in 
the  way  of  arbitrating  the  coal  dispute  at  a  time  when 
the  entire  Nation  is  menaced  by  a  lack  of  fuel.  You  can 
be  very  sure  there  will  be  no  trespass  on  the  rights  of  your 
State  in  dealing  with  the  matter.  The  President  has 
tried  to  be  helpful,  but  he  does  not  expect  everybody  to  be 
in  complete  accord  with  his  views. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Geo.  B.  Christian,  Jr., 

Secretary  to  the  President. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  31,  1922. 

Hon.  Herbert  Hoover, 

Secretary  of  Commerce, 
Washington,  D.  C, 
I    have   been    away   from    my   office.     This    and    great 
reluctance  to  assume  any  responsibility  in  the  matter  of 
coal  distribution  as  mentioned  in  your  message*  of  a  few 


*This  letter  is  probably  a  reply  to  a  telegram  found  on  page  309  and  arranged  as  undated  material. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  293 

days  ago  caused  the  delay.  After  full  reflection  I  see  noth- 
ing to  do  except  to  assume  without  any  possible  warrant  of 
law  the  power  to  comply  with  your  request,  and  I  hereby 
designate  the  members  of  the  State  Corporation  Commis- 
sion to  represent  North  Carolina  in  so  far  as  you  require 
representation  by  the  State  to  direct  the  distribution  of 
North  Carolina's  allotment  of  coal.  The  members  are 
W.  T.  Lee,  chairman,  A.  J.  Maxwell,  George  P.  Pell,  and 
their  address  is  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  August  18,  1922. 
Fairfax  Harrison, 

President  Southern  Railway, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
Your  wire  of  yesterday  received  promptly.  I  post- 
poned sending  troops  to  Spencer  because  under  all  cir- 
cumstances I  believe  it  was  the  best  course.  I  notified 
all  parties  there  that  orderly  conditions  must  be  preserved 
and  the  rights  of  your  company  and  of  all  others  respected 
or  I  would  promptly  send  troops.  You  may  be  assured 
the  state  of  North  Carolina  will  protect  the  property  of 
your  company  and  its  other  rights  in  this  State,  but  I 
believe  conditions  could  be  so  improved  that  it  would  be 
unnecessary.  If  I  find  I  am  mistaken  I  shall  act  promptly 
and  with  ample  forces  to  control  the  situation. 

Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

[Telegram] 

October  22,  1922. 
Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 

State  Capitol, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
I  am  appointing  you  one  of  a  committee  of  distinguished 
citizens  selected  from  every  state  to  cooperate  with  the 


294  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

American  Red  Cross  and  the  Near  East  Relief  and  with  the 
coordinating  committee  made  up  of  the  heads  of  the  organi- 
zations interested  in  relief  work  in  the  Near  East,  of  which 
Mr.  Will  H.  Hayes  is  chairman,  in  making  known  to  all 
of  our  countrymen  the  great  call  which  has  come  out  of  the 
Near  East  to  the  heart  of  the  American  people.  More 
than  a  half  million  suffering  human  beings,  the  majority 
women  and  children,  are  dependent  on  the  benevolence  of 
America.  The  Red  Cross  and  Near  East  Relief  Committees, 
working  in  harmony  and  supported  by  all  benevolent  organi- 
zations, are  responding  to  the  call.  The  coordinating  com- 
mittee is  helping  develop  the  money  raising  campaign  and 
bringing  into  concerted  action  all  the  forces  possible.  You 
will  not  be  burdened  with  the  details,  but  the  association  of 
your  name  will  be  a  great  influence  in  their  work  in  your 
community.  Warren  G.  Harding. 

[Telegram] 

[October  23,  1922.] 

To  His  Excellency,  Warren  G.  Harding, 

President  of  the  United  States, 
Washington,  D.  C. 
It  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  serve  on  the  committee 
as  per  your  telegram  of  October  twenty-second. 

Cameron  Morrison. 

[Telegram] 

New  York,  November  20,  1922. 
Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 
Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
In  connection  with  Governor  Parker's  appeal  for  our  aid 
in  controlling  Ku  Klux  Klan,  will  you  please  wire  collect 
at  your  earliest  convenience  the  situation  in  your  State 
and  whether  you  will  respond  to  his  plea  for  cooperation  of 
all  governors  in  suppressing  the  Klan. 

New  York  Tribune. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  295 

[Telegram] 

[November  21,  1922.] 

To  THE  Managing  Editor,  New  York  Times, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 
Speaking  for  myself  and  over  two  and  a  half  million 
North  Carolinians,  I  desire  to  express  to  you  my  heartfelt 
appreciation  of  the  magnificent  article  on  page  twelve  of 
the  special  features  section  of  Sunday's  Times  headed 
"Prosperity  Reigns  in  North  Carolina."  The  author,  Mr. 
James  Arthur  Seavey,  by  no  means  overstated  North 
Carolina's  progress,  and  I  want  to  convey  to  him  personally 
my  congratulations  on  what  I  regard  as  probably  the  most 
valuable  and  serviceable  industrial  article  on  North  Carolina 
ever  printed  outside  of  this  State.  You  have  thousands  of 
readers  in  North  Carolina  and  I  am  sure  every  one  of  them 
will  appreciate  your  article. 

Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

[Telegram] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  November  22,  1922. 

New  York  Tribune, 
New  York  City. 
Your  wire  received.  Answer  delayed  because  I  was  out 
of  my  office  when  it  came.  I  have  no  intention  of  cooper- 
ating with  the  governors  of  other  states  in  suppressing  the 
Ku  Klux  Klan,  as  you  say  Governor  Parker  has  suggested. 
I  have  had  no  such  plans  suggested  to  me  from  any  other 
governor.  I  do  not  expect  any  trouble  in  this  State  from 
this  source,  but  in  the  event  any  should  arise  organized 
government  will  be  able  to  handle  any  difficulty  which  we 
may  have. 

Cameron  Morrison. 


296  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

[Telegram] 

New  York  City,  February  10,  1923. 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Whereas,  we  the  University  of  North  CaroHna  Alumni 
Association  of  New  York  City,  at  our  meeting  on  February 
9,  discussing  the  educational  progress  within  the  state 
of  North  Carolina,  are  greatly  Impressed  with  the  results. 
And  whereas,  we,  realizing  the  necessity  of  continuing 
such  progress  and  firmly  believing  in  the  permanency  of  the 
recent  great  growth  and  in  the  future  leadership  of  the 
state  of  North  Carolina,  do  hereby  resolve  that  we  express 
our  hearty  endorsement  of  the  legislative  program  of  the 
1921  session  of  the  State  legislature  for  the  upbuild- 
ing of  education  in  the  State,  and  do  respectfully  and 
heartily  memorialize  the  present  session  of  the  State  legis- 
lature to  continue  this  same  constructive  and  forward  look- 
ing program. 

George  Gordon  Battle,  Chairman. 

David  Brady. 

Herman  H.  Horne. 

Victor  E.  Whitlock 

Dr.  I.  F.  Harris. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  March  6,  1923. 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Dear  Governor:  Permit  me  to  extend  to  you  the 
thanks  of  the  members  of  the  Labor  Legislative  Committee 
for  your  kindness  and  courtesies  shown  them  during  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Assembly.  I  heartily  join  them  in 
both  thanking  you  for  your  kindness  and  in  extending  best 
wishes. 

Yours  very  truly, 

W.  F.  Moody. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  297 

A   Proclamation    by    the    President    of   the   United 
States  of  America* 

Whereas,  the  preservation  of  our  forests,  Federal,  State 
and  private,  is  essential  to  our  industrial  and  commercial 
life,  to  our  strength  as  a  nation,  and  to  our  individual  well- 
being,  and 

Whereas,  forest  fires,  which  are  largely  the  result  of 
carelessness  or  thoughtlessness,  continue  to  do  great  damage, 
threatening  to  deplete  and  reduce  our  forests  to  the  point 
at  which  they  can  not  longer  serve  the  nation  adequately 
as  a  source  of  timber  supply  or  for  watershed  protection 
and  recreation,  and 

Whereas,  the  annual  observance  of  Arbor  Day  in  the 
states,  and  the  interest  in  fire  prevention  which  has  resulted 
from  Forest  Protection  Week  heretofore,  have  done  much 
to  awaken  the  people  to  the  importance  both  of  planting 
trees  and  of  perpetuating  the  forests  that  are  already 
established. 

Therefore,  I,  Warren  G.  Harding,  President  of  the  United 
States,  do  urge  upon  the  governors  of  the  various  states 
to  designate  and  set  apart  the  week  of  April  22-28,  1923, 
as  Forest  Protection  Week,  and  wherever  practicable  and 
not  in  conflict  with  State  law  or  accepted  custom,  to  make 
Arbor  Day  fall  within  the  same  week;  and  to  urge  citizens, 
teachers,  officers  of  public  instruction,  commercial  and  other 
associations,  and  the  press  to  unite  in  thought  and  effort 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Nation's  forest  resources  by 
conducting  appropriate  exercises  and  programs  and  by 
publishing  information  pertaining  to  the  waste  from  forest 
fires  and  ways  of  preventing  or  reducing  such  losses,  in 
order  that  out  forests  may  be  conserved  for  the  inestimable 
service  of  mankind. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 


*This  proclamation  was  enclosed  to  Governor  Morrison  in  a  letter  dated  March  22,  1923,  from  C.  W 
Pugsley,  Acting  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 


298  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington  this  fifth  day  of  March, 

in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  nine  hundred 

[seal]  and  twenty-three,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 

United    States    of   America    the   one    hundred    and 

forty-seventh. 

Warren  G.  Harding, 
By  the  President:  President. 

Charles  E.  Hughes, 
Secretary  of  State. 

Washington,  D.  C,  March  22,  1923. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  oj  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Dear  Governor  Morrison:  The  President  has  again 
issued  a  Forest  Protection  Week  proclamation,*  and  has 
this  year  designated  the  week  of  April  22-28  for  its  observ- 
ance. 

May  I  ask,  in  view  of  the  vital  importance  of  this  move- 
ment, that  you  give  whatever  assistance  you  can  toward 
securing  in  the  schools  and  elsewhere  throughout  your 
State  a  general  observance  of  this  week.?  Both  the  plant- 
ing of  trees  and  the  prevention  of  fires  are  necessary  to  the 
perservation  of  our  forests,  which  are  essential  to  the  public 
welfare.  Fires,  which  are  largely  the  result  of  human 
agencies,  continue  to  make  great  inroads  into  the  remaining 
timber  stands,  and  the  planting  of  trees  is  still  lamentably 
below  our  reforestation  needs.  It  is  of  little  use  to  plant 
if  we  do  not  keep  fires  out.  The  two  ideas  should  be  taught 
together.  Therefore,  I  suggest  the  combining  of  the  Arbor 
Day  and  Forest  Prevention  Week  programs  wherever  it 
is  at  all  possible. 

A  copy  of  the  President's  proclamation  is  enclosed. 

Sincerely, 

C.    W.    PUGSLEY, 

Acting  Secretary, 


•This  proclamation  is  the  one  preceding 


Letters  and  Telegrams  299 

Raleigh,  N.  C.  March  23,  1923. 
Hon.  C.  W.  Pugsley, 

Acting  Secretary  of  Agriculture, 
Wash  'ngton,  D.  C. 
Dear  Sir:     The  Governor  directs  me  to  say  that  he  has 
Issued  an  appeal  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  observe 
Forest  Protection  Week,  in  response  to  the  request  made 
by  the  President  In  his  proclamation  of  March  5. 
With  much  respect,  I  am. 
Yours  very  truly, 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 

Secretary  to  the  Governor. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  11,  1923. 

Mrs.  Kate  Burr  Johnson, 

Commissioner  of  Public  Welfare, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Mrs.  Johnson:  I  desire  to  withdraw  my 
request  for  an  investigation  by  your  board  Into  prison 
conditions  in  the  State.  I  have  decided  that  my  own 
official  responsibility  about  this  matter  is  greater  than  I 
had  at  first  realized.  I  have,  therefore,  determined  to 
assume  full  responsibility  in  the  matter  and  to  take  far- 
reaching  action  without  delay. 

Your  board,  under  the  law,  can  only  make  a  report  to 
me  for  submission  to  the  next  General  Assembly,  or  for 
my  own  guidance  and  assistance.  I  have  decided  that  I 
do  not  desire  a  report  from  you  for  the  purpose  of  Influenc- 
ing my  own  action,  and  as  the  General  Assembly  will  not 
meet  for  some  time,  I  am  unwilling  to  wait  until  that  time 
for  action. 

I  have  been  giving  serious  study  to  the  whole  subject, 
and  feel  that  I  have  both  the  legal  power  and  the  disposi- 
tion to  take  action  In  the  premises. 

^  Circumstances  are  such  that  I  really  think  your  investiga- 
tion and  report  would  embarrass  me  rather  than  aid  me  In 
the  course  I  have  firmly  fixed  my  mind  upon. 

I  am  thoroughly  In  accord  with  modern  and  progressive 
thought  upon  the  subject  of  prison  reform,  and  under  the 


300  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

law  as  it  is  now  written,  I  am  satisfied  the  whole  system 
can  be  put  in  modern  and  up-to-date  shape.  I  am  going 
to  exercise  all  the  power  I  have,  and  I  am  quite  sure  it  is 
sufficient  to  bring  this  about. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
(Copy  to  members  State  Board  of  Charities). 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  11,  1923. 

Hon.  James  S.  Manning, 

Attorney  General  of  North  Carolina, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Judge  :  I  will  thank  you  to  get  in  touch  with 
the  solicitors  of  the  State  at  your  earliest  convenience  and 
request  them  to  cooperate  with  you  in  an  investigation  of 
the  county  prisons  and  camps  in  which  prisoners  are  kept 
when  being  worked. 

I  desire  the  most  thorough  investigation  made  through 
regular  government  channels. 

I  want  you  to  assist  personally  in  the  prosecution  of  any 
breach  of  law,  or  inhuman  or  cruel  treatment  of  prisoners. 
If  your  force,  together  with  the  solicitors,  is  not  sufficient 
to  vindicate  the  law  and  punish  any  failure  of  duty,  I  will 
be  glad  to  consider  a  request  from  you  for  the  employment 
of  special  counsel  to  assist. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

[  Telegram  ] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  26,  1923. 

Hon.  Heriot  Clarkson, 

Law  Building, 

Charlotte,  N.  C. 
I  have  the  honor  to  send  you  by  today's  mail  a  commis- 
sion for  the  position  of  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court   of   North    Carolina,    to    succeed   Associate   Justice 
Walker,  deceased. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  301 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  26,  1923. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
I   am  deeply  appreciative  of  the  honor  you  have  con- 
ferred upon  me,  and  more  especially  as  coming  from  you; 
and  with  the  help  of  a  kind  Providence,  I  will  ever  strive 
to  justify  the  trust  and  confidence  you  have  placed  in  me. 

Heriot  Clarkson. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  26,  1923. 

Hon.  Heriot  Clarkson, 
Charlotte,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Clarkson:  Reposing  great  confidence  in 
your  exalted  character  and  devotion  to  the  great  principles 
upon  which  human  rights  are  based,  and  confident  of  the 
competency  of  your  knowledge  of  the  law,  I  desire  to  con- 
firm my  telegram  of  this  morning  tendering  you  the  position 
as  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  fill  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Justice  Walker,  deceased. 

The  personal  satisfaction  in  tendering  you  this  high  honor 
is  very  great. 

With  assurances  of  my  highest  esteem  and  respect, 
I  am. 

Very  truly  your  friend, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  9,  1923. 
Hon.  a.  T.  Allen, 
Raleigh,  N .  C. 

My  dear  Professor  Allen:  Confirming  a  recent 
conversation  with  you,  I  have  the  honor  to  tender  you  the 
position  of  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  to 
succeed  the  Honorable  E.  C.  Brooks,  until  the  next  general 
election. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  tender  you  this  appointment 
in  appreciation  of  the  great  service  you  have  already 
rendered  the  cause  of  education  in  the  State,  and  because 


302  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

of  my  confidence  in  your  ability  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
this  high  position. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  11,  1923. 

Honorable  Cameron  Morrison, 
Governor, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 

My  dear  Governor:  I  hereby  hand  you  my  resigna- 
tion as  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction.  It  is  my 
desire  that  you  accept  it  at  once  in  order  that  I  may  assume 
my  new  duties  as  President  of  the  North  Carolina  State 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering. 

I  wish  to  take  this  opportunity  to  express  to  you  my  very 
high  appreciation  of  your  leadership  and  cooperation  during 
the  time  that  I  have  been  associated  with  you  as  a  member 
of  the  State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Council. 
Your  leadership  in  the  great  social  and  industrial  develop- 
ment through  which  our  State  has  been  passing  is  exciting 
the  admiration  of  all  progressive,  patriotic  citizens,  and 
your  vigorous  support  of  the  State  public  school  system 
has  made  it  possible  for  North  Carolina  to  give  to  its 
children  a  new  and  richer  opportunity.  I  consider  it  has 
been  a  rare  privilege  for  me  to  be  associated  with  you  in 
the  great  undertakings  of  your  administration,  and  at  the 
time  when  I  am  leaving  the  State  Council  and  the  State 
Board  of  Education,  I  wish  you  to  know  in  what  high  esteem 
I  hold  you  and  what  respect  I  have  for  you. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 
E.  C.  Brooks, 

State  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  11,  1923. 
Hon.  E.  C.  Brooks, 

State  Superintendent  Public  Instruction, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Dr.   Brooks:     I   accept  your  resignation  as 
State   Superintendent  of  Public   Instruction   with    regret; 


Letters  and  Telegrams  303 

but  I  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  you  are  to  be  transferred  to  a 
position  from  which  your  great  abiHty  will  continue  to 
give  strength  to  the  educational  life  of  the  State. 

It  would  be  mpossible  for  me  to  measure  with  words 
the  very  great  service  which  you  have  rendered  North 
Carolina  as  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  as 
a  Councilor  of  State.  You  have  been  a  source  of  strength 
and  help  to  me  in  all  the  high  responsibilities  my  administra- 
tion has  had  to  meet. 

Although  you  are  not  to  continue  to  be  technically  a 
Councilor  of  State,  I  shall  continue  to  seek  the  benefit  of 
your  good  judgment  and  high  ideals  when  State  emergencies 
arise 

I  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  your  kind  references  to 

me. 

S'ncerely  and  cordially  your  friend, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  15,  1923. 
To  His  Excellency, 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Governor:  I  wish  to  express  to  you  my 
gratitude  for  the  very  great  honor  which  you  have  just 
conferred  on  me  by  appointing  me  State  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction.  I  am  especially  proud  of  the  fact 
that  I  am  thus  permitted  to  become  a  part  of  your  adminis- 
tration. 

I  know  that  there  is  nothing  in  my  record  that  warranted 
such  dist'nguished  consideration  at  your  generous  hand.  I 
assure  you,  however,  that  I  shall  earnestly  strive  at  all 
times  to  conduct  this  great  office,  under  your  leadership,  in 
such  a  way  that  you  may  have  no  cause  for  regret  at  your 
action  in  this  matter. 

Again  thanking  you,  I  am, 

Yours  very  sincerely, 
A.  T.  Allen, 

State  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 


304  Papers  of  Cameron  Morris 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  15,  1923. 

Hon.  Cameron  Morrison,  President  ex  officio, 
Dr.  Clarence  Poe,  Chairman  Executive  Committee, 
Board  of  Trustees  of  N.  C.  State  College 
of  Agriculture  and  Engineering. 
Dear  Sirs:     At  a  meeting  o^^  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  University  of  North   Carolina,   held   at   Chapel   Hill, 
June    12,    the   Secretary  was   requested   to   extend   hearty 
congratulations  to  your  Board  of  Trustees  on  the  election 
of  Dr.  E.  C.  Brooks  as  President  of  the  North  Carolina 
State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering, 

We  feel  that  the  election  of  Dr.  Brooks  is  a  matter  of 
congratulation  not  only  to  your  Board  but  to  the  entire 
State,  and  we  wish  to  assure  you  of  the  good  will  and 
friendly  feeling  which  our  Board  entertains  towards  the 
newly  elected  President  of  your  institution. 
Very  truly  yours, 

Henry  M.  London,  Secretary. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  July  19,  1923. 

I  want  to  say  to  you,  Mr.  Chairman*  and  gentlemen  of 
the  committee,  that  I  recognize  in  this  report,  which  you 
have  presented,  and  the  study  and  analyses  and  audit  of 
our  State's  financial  affairs  upon  which  it  is  based,  the  first 
comprehensive,  thorough  and  complete  study,  analyses 
and  audit  of  the  financial  affairs  our  State  ever  made. 

I  feel  quite  sure  that  an  intelligent  citizenship  will 
approve  the  necessary  expenditure  to  have  this  work  done. 

Immediately  after  becoming  acquainted  with  the  report 
and  the  recommendations  accompanying  it,  the  Council  of 
State  was  called  in  formal  meeting,  with  Major  Durham, 
our  State  Auditor,  and  Mr.  Lacy,  our  State  Treasurer, 
present,  and  we  unanimously  agreed  that  the  recommenda- 

*Statement  by  ttie  Governor  to  the  Joint  Legislative  Committee,  upon  their  presentation  of  the  report  of  the 
auditors,  Price,  Waterhouse  &  Co.,  on  the  financial  affairs  of  the  State. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  305 

tions  for  changes  In  the  manner  of  keeping  the  accounts  of 
the  State's  financial  transactions  would  be  approved  and 
put  in  operation  at  the  earliest  possible  date  it  could  be 
done. 

The  system  of  bookkeeping  and  auditing  which  we  have 
had  is  that  which  the  State  has  followed  through  a  long 
period  of  time.  It  is  established,  beyond  any  question, 
by  your  report  and  the  audit  behind  it,  that  it  was  suffi- 
cient to  keep  the  revenues  of  the  State  without  loss, 
because,  although  our  State  Treasurer  has  been  in 
office  for  twenty-three  years,  and  did  not  have  to  settle 
with  anybody  during  that  long  period  of  time,  that 
his  whole  cash  receipts  and  disbursements  being  checked 
by  this  great  auditing  firm  balances  to  a  dollar.  I  want  to 
congratulate  the  State  and  this  Committee  that  our 
Treasurer  had  In  hand  every  dollar  he  belonged  to  have; 
but  the  system  was  inadequate  to  keep  the  necessary 
accounts  and  give  the  people  and  the  General  Assembly 
the  information  absolutely  necessary  for  proper  legislation. 

I  am  quite  sure  that  both  Major  Durham  and  Mr.  Lacy, 
in  the  best  of  good  humor,  will  promptly  install  the  im- 
provements and  new  systems  suggested,  and  that  this 
part  of  the  report  is  well  worth  the  cost  of  it,  in  addition  to 
the  audit. 

I  want,  in  conclusion,  to  thank  you  for  the  very  impartial 
and  intelligent  manner  in  which  you  have  dealt  with  a  very 
important  phase  of  our  State's  life. 

July  24,  1923. 
Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Local  Board  of 
Fire  Underwriters  of  Wilmington,  N.  C,  representing  the 
insurance  companies  doing  business  in  North  Carolina,  In 
meeting  assembled,  believe  that  the  development  of  the 
state  of  North  Carolina  depends  largely  upon  lower  freight 
rates  and  competitive  freight  conditions,  endorse  fully  the 
action  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  seeking  to  impress 


20 


306  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

upon  the  State  Ship  and  Port  Commission,  the  need  for  a 
State  port,  and  in  favoring  its  location  at  Wilmington. 

We  take  this  opportunity  of  commending  Governor 
Cameron  Morrison  upon  the  broad  vision  which  has 
characterized  his  road  building  and  transportation  policy 
and  express  the  hope  that  the  recommendations  of  the 
State  Port  Commission  will  enable  him  to  crown  his  efforts 
to  give  North  Carolina  efficient  and  cheap  transportation. 

Resolved,  therefore,  that  copies  of  the  above  resolution 
be  given  to  the  Governor,  and  the  chairman  of  the  State 
Port  Commission. 

Passed  this  24th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1923,  at  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  in  the  county  of  New  Hanover. 

Clayton  Giles,  President. 
S.  C.  PuLLiAM,  Secretary. 

[  Telegram  ] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  August  3,  1923. 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Grove  Park  Inn, 

Asheville,  N.  C. 
At  a  conference  between  Hon.  W.  N.  Everett,  Secretary 
of  State;  Hon.  B.  R.  Lacy,  the  State  Treasurer;  and  Hon. 
Baxter  Durham,  the  State  Auditor,  held  this  morning,  it 
was  ordered  that,  out  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  President 
Harding  and  as  a  fitting  tribute  to  him,  all  flags  on  State 
buildings  be  placed  at  half  mast  and  that  the  Capitol  and 
public  buildings  be  closed  officially  today  and  again  at  the 
hour  of  the  President's  funeral. 

William  H.  Richardson, 

Private  Secretary. 

[  Telegram  ] 
Asheville,  N.  C,  August  4,  1923. 

Mrs.  Warren  G.  Harding, 

White  House, 

Washington,  D.  C. 
The  people  of  this  State  without  regard  to  party,  class 
or  color,  recognize  the  great  loss  to  our  whole  country  in 


Letters  and  Telegrams  307 

the  death  of  our  beloved  President  and  feel  the  deepest 
sympathy  for  you  in  your  great  bereavement. 

Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  January  21,  1924. 

Mr.  John  A.  Park, 

President,  The  Raleigh  Rotary  Club, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
My  dear  Mr.  Park:  I  am  indeed  gratified  to  learn 
that  the  Rotary  District  Conference  is  to  be  held  in  the 
city  of  Raleigh,  April  3-4;  and  I  wish,  through  you,  to 
extend  to  all  Rotarians  in  this  district,  a  cordial  invitation 
to  attend.  I  hope  this  conference  will  be  a  success  from 
every  standpoint.  The  spirit  of  "Rotary"  carries  with  it 
an  aggressiveness  that  is  beneficial  to  any  community.  I 
am  informed  that  the  Raleigh  Club  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
America  and  one  of  the  oldest,  and  I  am  sure  it  will  make 
a  graceful  host. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  you,  personally,  and  congratulat- 
ing "Rotary"  for  the  part  it  has  taken  in  building  up  com- 
munity. State  and  National  pride,  I  am. 

Sincerely, 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

March  24,  1924. 

[The  Public]: 

The  Road  Building  and  Maintenance  Demonstration  and 
Road  Machinery  Exhibit  which  is  to  be  held  in  North 
Carolina  June  4th  to  10th,  inclusive,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  American  Road  Builders  Association  and  the  North 
Carolina  State  Highway  Commission,  will  be  well  worth 
while.  As  Governor  of  the  State  I  wish  to  extend  to  all 
the  people  interested  in  road  construction  and  maintenance 
a  most  cordial  invitation  to  attend  this  demonstration. 
Especially  do  I  hope  the  State  and  county  officials  will  honor 
us  with  their  presence  and  join  with  us  in  making  this  the 
most  beneficial  road  conference  ever  held. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


308  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

[  Telegram  ] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  2,  1924. 

Major  George  Butler, 

Clinton,  N.  C. 
I  thank  you  for  your  speech  in  Goldsboro  advocating 
the    development   of   North    Carolina's    water   commerce. 
I  appreciate  the  fact  that  you  rose  above  partisanship  and 
took  this  position. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 

[  Telegram  ] 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  9,  1924. 
Mrs.  Locke  Craig, 
Asheville,  N.  C. 
I  am  deeply  grieved  over  the  death  of  your  great  husband. 
You  have  my  deepest  sympathy.     The  State  has  suifered 
an  irreparable  loss. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 


[  Telegram  ] 

Washington,  D.  C,  —  26,  — . 

Governor  Cameron  Morrison, 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Attitude  of  Federal  government  seems  to  be  that  a 
solution  of  coal  strike  rests  with  State  authorities.  Would 
you  be  good  enough  to  telegraph  three  hundred  words 
telling  what  per  cent  of  normal  production  is  being  pro- 
duced in  coal  mines  today  in  your  State,  and  what  your 
idea  is  as  to  the  best  means  of  settlement.?  We  are  planning 
to  use  this  material  in  Sunday  newspapers  from  coast  to 
coast,  etc. 

Consolidated  Press  Association. 


Letters  and  Telegrams  309 

[  Telegram  ] 
Washington,  D.  C,  —  26,  — . 

The  Honorable  Governor*  of  North  Carolina, 

Raleigh^  N.  C. 
In  order  that  the  Federal  government  may  do  its  part  In 
the   distribution   of   coal   supplies   over   the   present   very 
difficult  situation,  the  President  has  appointed  a  committee 
on  coal  distribution  comprising  representatives  of  depart- 
ments of  Justice,  Interior,  Interstate  Commerce  Commis- 
sion and  Department  of  Commerce,  under  my  chairmanship, 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  coordination  of  Federal  agencies 
in    the   best   distribution    of   the    available    coal    supplies. 
Certain  priorities  have  been  established  in  necessary  com- 
modities  by   the   Interstate    Commerce   Commission   who 
have  asked  your  State  Public  Utilities  Commission  if  the 
Interstate  Commission  may  have  Its  active  assistance  in 
the  distribution  and  transportation  of  coal  by  public  utilities 
and  governmental  institutions.  If  necessary.     Beyond  this, 
the  Presidential  Committee  on  coal  distribution   are  co- 
operating  with    coal    operators    and    with    the    Interstate 
Commerce  Commission  in  an  endeavor  to  secure  that  coal 
shall  be  sold  from  the  mines  at  a  fair  price.     The  agencies 
and  present  authority  of  the  Federal  government,  of  course, 
do  not  enable  it  to  protect  the  ultimate  consumer  of  coal 
f       within  the  boundaries  of  a  state  further  than  such  pro- 
tection can  be  secured  by  the  above  means  that  coal  sold 
in  interstate  commerce  shall  be  sold  to  the  original  purchaser 
at  a  fair  price  and  that  fair  distribution  between  the  states 
be  obtained.     The  problem  of  securing  that  the  ultimate 
consumer  shall  be  protected  In  securing  coal  now  In  circula- 
tion, and  on  resale  of  coal  distributed  as  above,  and  that 
equitable  distribution  shall  be  carried  out  must  rest  within 
the  authority  of  each  state.     I  am  sending  this  telegram 
at  the  request  of  the  President  to  learn  if  you  can  undertake 
to  operate  a   state  organization  under  your  direction   to 
secure  that  this   shall  be   done   and    with  which    we   can 
cooperate. 

Herbert  Hoover. 

•A  letter  found  on  page  292  \3  very  probably  a  reply  to  this  telegram. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MATERIAL 


PUNISHMENT    ADMINISTERED    PRISONERS    OF 
THE  STATE  PRISON 

APRIL  17,  1923 

We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  State  Prison,  respectfully  submit  to  the  people  of 
the  State  the  following  statement: 

We  do  not  think  the  statement  so  sensationally  given 
the  press  by  one  E.  E.  Dudding,  styling  himself  President 
of  the  Prisoners'  Relief  Society,  requires  any  investigation 
on  our  part  or  on  the  part  of  any  other  body  of  officials 
representing  the  state  of  North  Carolina  for  the  following 
reasons: 

Dudding  is  not  a  citizen  of  this  State,  and  ought  not  to 
be  heard  in  Interference  with  our  governmental  affairs; 
further,  his  record  is  notoriously  bad.  We  are  of  the  opinion 
that  no  investigation  should  be  made  for  the  further  reason 
that  each  and  all  of  us  know  his  statement  to  be  untrue  and 
scurrilous. 

During  the  last  two  years,  or  since  the  assumption  of 
control  at  the  Penitentiary  by  the  present  Board,  seven 
persons  have  been  whipped  at  the  Central  Prison.  The 
whipping  was  done  strictly  under  the  law,  as  enacted  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  None  of  these  parties 
were  Injured.  The  prison  physician  and  witnesses  were 
present  in  each  instance.  The  record  was  made,  as  required 
by  law,  in  each  case.  This  record  Is  open  to  the  lawful 
officers  of  the  State  or  any  interested  citizen  of  North 
Carolina. 

One  of  these  persons  was  a  colored  girl.  We  hereto 
attach  the  affidavit  of  Mrs.  I.  H.  Rogers,  the  white  matron 
in  charge  of  the  women  prisoners  of  the  institution,  in  which 
the  reasons  for  the  whipping  of  this  woman  are  set  forth 
with  particularity,  and  the  attention  of  the  public  is 
especially  directed  thereto.  It  may  shock  some  at  first 
thought  that  this  female  was  whipped,  but  unless  some 
protection  can  be  given  Mrs.  Rogers  and  other  white 
women  whose  services  are  necessary  for  the  proper  care  of 


314  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

the  female  prisoners,  then  none  can  be  employed.  She  Is 
the  only  female  whipped  during  our  administration. 

The  six  males  whipped  were  whipped  because  the  circum- 
stances In  each  case,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Warden  and 
officers,  made  It  necessary  In  order  to  preserve  discipline, 
prevent  demoralization  and  endanger  the  safety  of  even  the 
prisoners  themselves. 

It  would  make  this  statement  too  long  to  set  forth  the 
particulars  In  each  case,  but  they  were  shocking  In  character, 
and  made  punishment  necessary. 

Corporal  punishment  has  been  Inflicted  at  some  of  the 
camps,  but  In  each  and  every  Instance,  It  was  inflicted 
strictly  In  accord  with  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  on 
the  subject,  a  report  of  the  same  made  to  the  Central 
Prison,  and  the  records  are  available  to  any  citizen  of  the 
State  or  any  officer  of  the  law  who  may  desire  to  Investigate 
any  of  the  cases.  Nothing  in  the  nature  of  permanent 
injury  resulted  from  the  punishment  inflicted  at  any  of 
the  camps. 

Physical  punishment  has  been  reduced  to  the  lowest 
possible  minimum,  but  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State, 
In  the  modern  and  up-to-date  statute  on  the  subject, 
enacted  during  the  administration  of  the  humane  Governor 
Bickett,  recognized  that  some  punishment  was  necessary 
In  some  cases.  In  order  to  prevent  such  demoralization  as 
would  result  in  escapes,  and  to  prevent  the  prisoners  from 
doing  violence  to  each  other.  In  spite  of  our  best  efforts, 
they  frequently  do  this. 

One  of  these  whippings  at  one  of  the  camps  was  inflicted 
upon  seven  men  who  assaulted  and  almost  killed  a  guard; 
another  whipping  was  because  the  man  punished  cut  a 
fellow  prisoner  nearly  to  death  with  a  knife,  which  he  had 
In  some  way  secreted  about  him,  and  the  doctor  had  to 
take  forty-eight  stitches  in  his  body. 

We  have  set  up  officers  of  the  law,  solicitors,  prosecuting 
attorneys,  grand  juries,  an  Attorney  General,  and  a  Com- 
missioner of  Public  Welfare  to  represent  the  people  and 
Investigate  alleged  criminality  on  the  part  of  officers,  as 
well  as  on  the  part  of  private  citizens.     We  do  not  propose 


Miscellaneous  Material  315 

in  any  way  to  encourage  setting  up  somebody  to  have  a 
sensational  and  useless  investigation  of  slanderous  charges 
against  our  management  of  the  institution;  but  if  any 
solicitor,  grand  jury,  welfare  commissioner  or  other  officer 
of  the  law,  wants  to  make  any  investigation  of  any  act  or 
anything  done  at  the  State  Prison  under  our  management, 
it  will  be  the  pleasure  of  the  Superintendent  and  other 
officers  in  charge  to  expedite  the  investigation  and  courteous- 
ly assist  therein  at  any  time. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Jas.  a.  Leak,  Chairman. 

W.  M.  Sanders. 

A.  L.  Bullock. 

R.  M.  Chatham. 

Geo.  Ross  Pou,  Superintendent. 

Hugh  A.  Love,  Clerk. 

Jas.  H.  Norman,  Jr.,  Physician. 

S.  J.  Busbee,   Warden. 


AFFIDAVIT  CONCERNING  THE  CONDUCT  OF 
ADA  ADAMS 

This  is  to  certify  that  Ada  Adams,  a  fifteen  year  old 
negro  girl,  was  placed  under  my  charge  at  the  State's 
Prison  on  or  about  the  15th  day  of  December,  1919,  having 
been  convicted  of  larceny  and  sentenced  to  the  State's 
Prison  for  a  term  of  two  years. 

That  upon  her  commitment  to  the  State's  Prison  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  the  institution  were  fully  explained  to 
her,  and  she  was  placed  at  work  with  the  other  women 
prisoners. 

That  soon  after  Ada  Adams  was  placed  under  my  charge 
she  became  disobedient.  I  warned  her  and  she  was  con- 
tinually disobedient  and  insulting,  not  only  to  me,  but  to 
the  women  prisoners.  She  used  vile,  indecent  and  insulting 
language  which  I  would  not  think  of  attempting  to  repeat. 
She  was  continually  bringing  about  unrest  and  turmoil. 


316  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

She  fought,  destroyed  property,  was  insulting  and  refused 
to  work. 

After  finding  that  I  could  not  control  the  woman,  I 
called  upon  Captain  Busbee,  the  Warden.  Captain  Busbee 
had  her  placed  in  a  dark  cell  in  the  Woman's  Building. 
When  released,  she  continued  her  meanness.  Several 
times  more  she  was  placed  in  the  dark  cell,  but  it  seemed 
to  have  no  effect.  I  had  called  Captain  Busbee  in  several 
times,  and  he  had  warned  her  that  unless  she  behaved  it 
would  become  necessary  to  whip  her. 

She  continued  her  insulting,  disobedient,  destructive  con- 
duct, and  on  May  10,  1921,  Captain  Busbee  had  the  girl 
dressed  in  a  man's  heavy  winter  union  suit  and  in  the 
presence  of  the  prison  physician,  gave  the  woman  twelve 
straps.  He  did  not  strike  her  upon  the  naked  flesh. 
Neither  did  he  strike  her  on  the  back. 

The  punishment  was  given  as  a  last  resort,  and  was 
neither  cruel  nor  inhuman.  The  woman  suifered  no  ill 
effects  from  the  punishment. 

The  public  must  remember  that  I  have  women  under  my 
control  who  have  been  convicted  of  various  crimes.  Some 
for  murder  of  people  in  cold  blood,  some  for  infanticide,  one 
for  actually  placing  a  child  in  a  cave  and  letting  it  slowly 
starve  to  death;  and  also  for  other  crimes. 

I  have  under  my  control  over  forty  women  prisoners. 

As  a  general  rule  these  women  are  obedient  and  respect- 
ful, but  now  and  then  one  becomes  so  vile,  vulgar,  insulting 
and  obnoxious  and  disobedient  that  it  is  necessary  for 
punishment. 

No  men  are  in  charge  of  women  prisoners,  other  than 
the  Warden  and  Superintendent. 

Mb-S.  I.  H.  Rogers, 

Matron  in  Charge. 
Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me 

this  the  17th  day  of  April,  1923. 

Josephine  Rand,  N.  P. 


Miscellaneous  Material  317 

OFFER  OF  3400  REWARD 

Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  17,  1923. 

A  reward  of  four  hundred  (^400)  dollars  will  be  paid  for 
evidence  sufficient  to  convict  any  employee  of  the  North 
Carolina  State  Prison  Board  for  whipping  any  State  con- 
vict, and  failing  to  report  such  action,  as  required  by  the 
State  law,  to  the  Superintendent  of  the  State's  Prison,  or 
for  whipping  one  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  statute 
regulating  the  same  and  without  the  presence  of  the 
witnesses  required  by  law,  or  any  cruelty  or  inhumanity  to 
any  prisoner  in  the  State  prior  to  this  date. 

Cameron  Morrison,  Governor. 
By  the  Governor: 

Wm.  H.  Richardson, 
Private  Secretary. 


REPORT   AND    RECOMMENDATIONS    OF    THE 
SUPERINTENDENT  OF  THE  STATE  PRISON 

MAY  17,  1923 

To  His  Excellency, 

The  Governor  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  Honorable  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  North  Carolina 
State  Prison 

As  Superintendent  of  the  North  Carolina  State's  Prison 
I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  observations  and 
recommendations : 

Since  my  appointment  on  May  10,  1921,  I  have  given 
my  entire  time  and  energy  to  the  business  of  the  State's 
Prison.  Until  recently  the  Superintendent  of  the  State's 
Prison  had  under  his  supervision  approximately  eight 
hundred  inmates,  which  were  distributed  in  four  or  five 
road  camps,  one  farm,  and  at  the  Central  Prison  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  During  this  administration  the  number  of  inmates 
has  increased  more  than  fifty  per  cent  in  numbers,  and  today 


318  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

we  have  approximately  1,200  population.  These  prisoners 
are  distributed  in  eleven  road  camps,  two  immense  farms 
and  at  the  Central  Prison,  a  total  of  fourteen  different 
places  in  the  State,  as  compared  with  the  former  five  or  six 
places.  The  supervision  of  these  camps  and  farms  calls 
for  travel  of  more  than  1,500  miles,  traversing  forty-three 
of  the  one  hundred  counties  in  the  State.  I  mention  this 
fact  that  you  may  realize  the  difficulty  which  has  been 
experienced  in  giving  the  prisoners  under  our  control  con- 
stant supervision,  and  the  increase  in  the  duties  of  him  who 
occupies  the  place  of  superintendent,  as  compared  with 
the  duties  of  former  superintendents.  The  superintendent 
also  attends,  as  you  know,  to  all  executive  duties. 

Upon  my  appointment  the  Governor  requested  me  to 
study  and  experiment  to  ascertain  if  the  use  of  corporal 
punishment  could  be  abandoned.  With  this  in  view  I 
have  made  a  thorough  investigation  and  study  of  prisoners 
and  prison  conditions  under  our  supervision.  I  have 
studied  the  system  used  in  our  Federal  prisons  and  other 
State  prisons,  but  the  bulk  of  my  knowledge  has  been 
received  by  hard  study,  close  observation  and  personal 
contact  with  the  prisoners  themselves,  which  in  my  opinion 
is  the  only  way  to  ascertain  and  determine  what  system 
can  best  be  adopted,  and  what  Is  best  for  the  prisoner  during 
his  confinement  and  upon  his  release. 

It  has  been  uppermost  in  my  mind  to  give  to  North 
Carolina  a  humane,  modern  and  up-to-date  prison  system. 
Prison  conditions  have  greatly  improved  over  a  period  of 
two  years.  Prison  conditions  should  be  remedied  by  prison 
ofliiclals,  legislative  action  should  be  unnecessary  except  In 
certain  instances,  such  as  our  recent  recommendations  to 
the  General  Assembly  relative  to  the  establishment  of  a 
Tubercular  Colony  for  tuberculous  state  and  county 
convicts,  and  the  abolition  of  the  Criminal  Insane  Depart- 
ment of  the  State's  Prison.  These  two  laws  which  were 
passed  by  the  last  General  Assembly  will  live  as  monuments 
to  the  Prison  Board  of  Directors. 

At  this  same  General  Assembly  a  bill  was  proposed  pro- 
hibiting corporal  punishment  at  the  State's  Prison  and  Its 


Miscellaneous  Material  319 

camps.  No  constructive  practical  idea  as  to  what  form  of 
discipline  would  replace  corporal  punishment  was  offered 
or  suggested  by  the  proponents  of  the  bill.  I  offered  to 
withdraw  my  opposition  to  the  "Anti-flogging  Bill"  if  the 
proponents  would  give  some  practical  form  of  punishment  to 
replace  corporal  punishment  with  which  to  maintain 
necessary  discipline.  No  plans  were  submitted.  The  bill 
was  voted  down  unanimously.  I  regretted  at  the  time  that 
some  one  could  not  offer  a  substitute  form  of  punishment. 
I  had  not  completed  my  study  of  prisoners  and  prison  con- 
ditions and  was  not  satisfied  I  could  offer  a  practical  plan. 

Prison  conditions  are  peculiar  to  the  locality  or  state  in 
which  they  are  situate.  Concentration  of  prison  units,  form 
of  work  provided  and  climatic  conditions  must  be  con- 
sidered. A  system  which  may  work  well  in  New  York, 
Minnesota  or  California  may  be  worthless  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  vice  versa. 

In  March  1922,  more  than  fourteen  months  ago,  we 
began  an  experiment  at  one  of  our  camps.  The  experiment 
was  a  success  and  this  camp  has  gone  for  more  than  four- 
teen months  without  corporal  punishment.  Corporal 
punishment  has  been  abolished  at  a  majority  of  our 
camps  for  several  months.  One  supervisor  who  had  a 
reputation  of  inflicting  corporal  punishment  more  than  the 
others  is  now  entering  his  tenth  month,  nearly  a  year,  with- 
out corporal  punishment.  In  others  it  has  been  necessary, 
but  corporal  punishment  has  been,  I  believe,  reduced  to  a 
minimum  under  the  present  system  of  discipline. 

The  foundation  for  the  new  system  which  I  shall  propose 
is  the  use  of  the  indeterminate  sentence.  With  the  entire 
prison  population  serving  indeterminate  sentences  it  is 
discretionary  with  this  Board  of  Directors  as  to  whether  the 
prisoner  shall  be  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  minimum 
sentence,  at  the  expiration  of  his  maximum  sentence  or 
between  such,  according  to  the  prisoner's  behavior.  This 
gives  those  in  direct  charge  of  the  prisoners  an  opportunity 
to  appeal  to  the  sense  of  honor  and  manhood  of  the  prisoner. 
It  gives  to  the  prisoner  hope  of  reward  for  good  behavior, 
far  more  than  the  gain  time  for  good  behavior,  now  allowed 


320  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

by  law.  This  law  teaches  the  prisoner  self-restraint,  even 
more  than  the  confinement,  and  it  was  from  lack  of  self- 
restraint  the  prisoner  became  involved  in  the  crime  for 
which  he  was  sentenced.  It  creates  in  the  prisoner  a 
desire  to  do  right,  and  by  so  doing  to  cut  his  sentence. 

I  therefore  respectfully  recommend  to  your  Excellency 
that  you  change  to  an  indeterminate  sentence  the  sentence 
of  every  prisoner  in  the  State's  Prison,  now  serving  a  fixed 
sentence.     You  have  such  authority. 

I  would  also  respectfully  recommend  to  the  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  that  he  advise  and  confer  with  our 
honored  Superior  Court  Judges  and  the  Emergency  Judges 
with  a  view  of  securing  their  cooperation,  which  I  am  sure 
they  will  gladly  give. 

I  recommend  to  this  Honorable  Board  as  follows: 

1.  All  prisoners  now  confined  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  North  Carolina  State's  Prison  be  as  soon  as  practicable 
reclassified,  this  reclassification  subject  to  the  approval  of 
this  Board.  Class  "A"  to  be  excepted.  Class  "B"  shall 
be  composed  of  all  prisoners  who  have  been  of  good  conduct 
for  the  past  sixty  days  or  who  have  been  in  the  State's 
Prison  for  less  than  sixty  days  and  have  been  of  good 
behavior.  Class  "C"  shall  constitute  all  prisoners  whose 
conduct  within  the  past  sixty  days  has  been  bad.  That 
those  prisoners  who  may  be  retained  in  "C"  grade  be  pro- 
moted to  "B"  grade  should  they  remain  of  good  behavior 
for  a  period  of  sixty  consecutive  days  after  the  reclassifi- 
cation. 

2.  After  a  prisoner  be  hereafter  placed  in  "C"  grade  as 
punishment  shall  not  be  promoted  until  after  he  has  re- 
mained of  good  behavior  for  sixty  consecutive  days. 

3.  Before  a  prisoner  be  demoted  he  shall  be  granted  an 
impartial  investigation  of  the  charges  against  him.  Due 
consideration  shall  be  made  of  the  mental  condition  of  the 
prisoner  and  the  provocation  under  which  the  act  was  com- 
mitted, disposition  or  temperament  of  the  prisoner,  past 
prison  record  and  general  attitude  before  he  be  demoted  or 
otherwise  punished. 


Miscellaneous  Material  321 

4.  Class  "A"  prisoners  shall  be  granted  the  following 
privileges:  freedom  of  the  yard  on  Sundays  and  recognized 
holidays  and  after  work,  conditions  permitting;  to  attend 
any  form  of  prison  entertainment  and  to  play  games  which 
may  be  allowed;  to  receive  mail  in  the  discretion  of  the 
Superintendent;  write  not  more  than  three  letters  in  any 
one  week;  see  his  family  or  friends  at  place  of  confinement 
in  discretion  of  Superintendent;  one  ration  of  smoking  and 
chewing  tobacco  each  week;  privilege  to  receive  one  daily 
or  weekly  newspaper  subject  to  approval  of  the  Superin- 
tendent; privilege  to  receive  from  friends  or  relatives 
photographs,  plain  white  towels,  horn  comb,  hair  brush, 
tooth  soap  (not  powders),  tooth  brush,  small  hand  mirror, 
suspenders,  plain  white  handkerchiefs  and  black  ties. 

Privileges  of  class  "B"  prisoners  to  be  same  as  class 
"A"  except  those  in  this  grade  will  be  permitted  to  write 
only  one  letter  each  week,  to  receive  visitors  only  twice 
monthly. 

Prisoners  of  "C"  grade  will  have  no  privileges  other  than 
yard  privileges,  to  write  one  letter  each  month  and  to 
receive  visitors  once  each  month. 

5.  These  rules  shall  not  be  construed  to  preclude  special 
permission  in  extreme  cases  to  be  given  by  the  Super- 
intendent to  see  a  particular  prisoner  of  any  grade  at  any 
time. 

6.  The  above  are  privileges  and  not  mandatory  by 
statute.  Prisoners  will  be  punished  according  to  offense  in 
the  following  manner: 

a.  Reprimand 

b.  Loss  of  one  or  more  privileges 

c.  Reduction  in  grade 

d.  Addition  of  time  to  minimum  sentence 

e.  Double  shackles 

f.  Confinement  in  solitary  cell  and  hard  labor 

g.  Confinement  in  solitary  cell  on  restricted  diet  after 
examination  by  physician.  Diet  to  be  approved 
by  Secretary  of  State  Board  of  Health.  No 
prisoner  to  be  confined  longer  than  48  hours  except 
by  authority  of  the  Superintendent. 


21 


322  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

7.  That  no  prisoner  in  grade  "C"  be  recommended  for 
parole  or  pardon. 

8.  Conduct  cards  shall  be  kept  at  each  place  of  confine- 
ment of  prisoners  upon  which  any  notation  of  good  or  bad 
conduct  must  be  made,  together  with  any  punishment 
administered  and  such  cards  shall  be  forwarded  on  the 
first  day  of  each  month  to  the  Superintendent. 

It  is  my  observation  that  the  first  principle  for  disciplining 
prisoners  is  to  get  it  into  the  minds  of  those  employees  in 
charge  of  prisoners  that  in  so  far  as  possible  prisoners 
should  be  accorded  the  same  treatment  as  any  free  worker. 
Prisoners  are  merely  ordinary  humans,  just  as  you  and  I; 
they  have  temperaments,  inclinations  and  aspirations  just 
as  other  human  beings.  The  fewer  rules  adopted  the  better 
you  can  regulate  discipline  as  it  seem^s  human  for  some  of  us 
to  do  those  things  we  are  specifically  prohibited  from  doing. 

It  is  necessary  to  have  the  prisoners  realize  they  have 
trust  and  dependence  within  themselves. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  with  the  adoption  of  the  above 
suggestions  that  this  Board  of  Directors  may  authorize  me 
to  abandon  the  use  of  corporal  punishment  until  at  least 
the  ideas  presented  have  proven  a  failure,  and  I  so  recom- 
mend. I  also  recommend  the  abolishment  of  the  use 
of  dark  cells,  which  I  have  always  questioned.  But  as 
before  stated,  I  do  not  claim  the  system  proposed  to  be 
perfect  in  every  respect.  It  can  be  improved  from  time 
to  time  and  that  is  my  desire.  These  suggestions  are  the 
fruit  of  my  study  of  other  prison  systems  and  personal 
contact  with  prisoners  and  prison  conditions.  They  are 
based  on  experience  of  myself  and  others  and  not  on  theory. 

I  have  recently  visited  every  camp  with  one  exception, 
which  was  visited  by  Major  Hugh  A.  Love.  At  each  camp 
I  requested  each  prisoner  having  a  complaint  of  any  kind 
to  come  to  me  with  such  complaint.  These  com.plaints  were 
few.  Only  five  or  six  claimed  they  had  been  mistreated 
when  given  corporal  punishment.  In  each  instance  I  con- 
ferred with  the  physician  who  witnessed  the  infliction  of  the 
punishment,  according  to  law,  and  in  each  instance  the 
physician  advised  that  no  inhuman  or  cruel  punishment 


Miscellaneous  Material  323 

had  been  Inflicted.  I  know  there  has  been  no  inhuman  or 
cruel  treatment  practiced  in  the  convict  camps  under  the 
supervision  of  the  State's  Prison  officiais.  I  am  not 
responsible  for  what  takes  place  in  the  county  jails  and 
convict  camps  and  know  nothing  of  them. 

Respectfully", 

George  Ross  Pou, 

Superintendent. 


RESOLUTIONS   OF  THE   BOARD   OF   DIRECTORS 
OF  THE  STATE  PRISON 

MAY  17,  1923 

Be  it  resolved  by  this  Board  of  Directors  that  the 
Governor  be  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to  offer  the 
maximum  reward  as  authorized  by  law  for  sufficient 
evidence  to  convict  any  employee  of  the  North  Carolina 
State's  Prison  Board  of  having  whipped  any  State  convict 
unlawfully,  or  not  having  reported  any  legal  whipping  as 
required  by  law. 

SERVICE  RENDERED  BY  THE  SHIP  AND  Wx\TER 
TRANSPORTATION  COMMISSION 

MAY  23,  1924 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Ship 
and  Water  Transportation  Commission: 
You  have  rendered  the  state  of  North  Carolina  a  great 
service.     I  am  quite  certain  the  whole  State  will  appreciate 
the  sacrifice  and  labor  given  by  you  to  an  investigation  and 
study  of  the  great  subject  committed  to  you,  and  I  believe 
the  people  will  approve  the  judgment  arrived  at  by  you. 
|.  The  development  of  the  waterways  of  North  Carolina 

^  was  one  of  the  objects  which  influenced  me  to  defy  many 
obstacles  and  seek  the  high  office  which  I  now  hold.  I 
had   become    so   dominated    by   the    thought   that   North 


324  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Carolina  was  not  meeting  in  a  high  and  full  way  the  entire 
responsibility  of  a  great  state  that  I  made  bold  to  seek 
political  power  and  high  public  position  in  order  that  I 
might  help  carry  through  a  program  which  looked  to  a 
tremendous  augmentation  of  our  educational  program,  the 
better  care  of  our  defectives  and  unfortunates  of  every 
description,  the  stronger  and  more  up-to-date  protection  of 
the  health  of  the  people,  a  more  vigorous  enforcement  of 
the  law,  greater  attention  to  our  agricultural  life,  the  con- 
struction of  a  great  system  of  modern  highways,  the 
strengthening  of  our  fish  and  oyster  industry,  and  the 
animating  of  all  our  State  activities,  including  the  develop- 
ment of  our  waterways  for  transportation  purposes. 

The  program  has  all  been  put  through,  except  the  develop- 
ment of  our  waterways,  about  which  your  report  is  made. 
I  am  deeply  thankful  to  a  kind  Providence  that  I  have  been 
permitted  by  the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  help  do  the 
great  things  which  this  State  has  done  in  the  last  few  years. 

But  the  program  for  the  further  progress  and  greater 
strengthening  of  this  State  will  not  be  complete  until  our 
unrivaled  navigable  waterways  are  utilized  by  the  people 
of  this  State  as  an  additional  means  of  transportation,  as 
well  as  a  competitive  means  for  the  railroads  in  transporta- 
tion. 

Your  report  will  be  submitted  to  the  General  Assembly 
and  to  the  people  of  the  State. 

I  know  I  have  not  embarrassed  you  during  your  delibera- 
tions by  importunities  or  any  improper  effort  to  influence 
you.  You  were  selected  for  this  great  service  to  the  State 
because  I  believed  you  loved  it;  that  you  were  high  above 
any  improper  influence,  and  that  you  would  render  a  con- 
scientious and  just  conclusion.     I  know  you  have  done  so. 

Personally,  I  find  in  your  conclusion  possibly  the  greatest 
satisfaction  in  quite  a  long  and  active  participation  in 
public  affairs.  I  believe  that  the  adoption  of  this  report 
of  yours  in  regard  to  the  development  of  our  waterways  will 
do  more  to  make  this  State  strong  and  great  than  any  other 
thing  the  government  can  do. 

I  thank  each  of  you  from  my  very  heart  for  the  patriotism 
and  wisdom  you  have  displayed. 


APPOINTMENTS* 

(1921-1925) 


Adjutant  General 
J.  Van  B.  Metts Wilmington 

Commissioner  of  Revenue 

Col.  A.  D.  Watts Statesville 

R.  A.  Doughton Sparta 

Secretary  of  State 
W.  N.  Everett Rockingham 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
W.  A.  Graham,  Jr Iron  Station 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 
A.  T.  Allen Raleigh 

Chief  Justice  Supreme  Court 
W.  A.  Hoke Raleigh 

Supreme  Court  Judges 

W.  J.  Adams Carthage 

Heriot  Clarkson Charlotte 

Geo.  W.  Connor Wilson 

Superior  Court  Judges 

Walter  E.  Brock Wadesboro 

Thomas  M.  Pittman Henderson 

Garland  E.  Midyette Jackson 

M.  V.  Barnhill Rocky  Mount 

Michael  Schenck Hendersonville 

Superior  Court  Emergency  Judges 

C.  C.  Lyon Elizabethtown 

O.  H.  Allen Kinston 

George  H.  Brown Washington 

Garland  S.  Ferguson Waynesville 

*This  list  of  appointments  was  compiled  from  the  General  Commission  Book  in  the  Governor's  office. 


326  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Solicitors 

M.  W.  Nash Hamlet 

Francis  O.  Clarkson Charlotte 

Donnell  Gilliam Tarboro 

J.  W.  Pless,  Jr Marion 

R.  H.  Parker Enfield 

Minority  Member  of  Budget  Commission 
T.  M.  Jenkins Robbinsville 

Appalachian  and  Western  North  Carolina  Railroad  Company 
W.  D.  Turner Statesville 

Active  State  Chairman  Harding  Memorial 
J.  Elwood  Cox High  Point 

Trustees  Stonewall  Jackson  Training  School 

Chas.  A.  Cannon Concord 

P.  C.  Whitlock Charlotte 

Dr.  W.  P.  Few Durham 

Rev.  T.  P.  Jirnison Spencer 

Washington  Memorial  Committee  at  Valley  Forge 

Mrs.  S.  Westray  Battle Asheville 

Dr.  S.  West  ay  Battle Asheville 

Mrs.  Theodore  Davidson Asheville 

Samuel  Nash Tarboro 

J.  G.  M.  Cormick Wilmington 

Mis  i  Mary  H.  Hinton Raleigh 

A.  B.  Andrews Raleigh 

Mrs.  C.  W.  TiUett Charlotte 

James  A.  Gray,  Jr Winston-Salem 

State  Geologist 
Brent  S.  Drane Charlotte 

Cotton  Commission 

R.  O.  Everett Durham 

A.  W.  McLean Lumberton 

C.  B.  Williams Raleigh 

L.  J.  Baker Palmyra 


Miscellaneous  Material  327 

Geological  Board 

John  H.  Small Washington 

C.  C.  Smoot Wilkesboro 

Dr.  S.  Westray  Battle Asheville 

Directors  State  School  for  Deaf  and  Blind  at  Raleigh 

R.  S.  Busbee Raleigh 

Dr.  W.  A.  Rogers Franklin 

A.  L.  McNeill Sanford 

John  A.  Oates Fayetteville 

Chas.  W.  Home Clayton 

J.  F.  McMahon Raleigh 

John  T.  Finley North  Wilkesboro 

Col.  Jos.  E.  Pogue Raleigh 

R.  S.  Taylor Warsaw 

Board  of  Agriculture 

J.  J.  Harris Macon 

R.  W.  Scott Mebane 

W.  B.  McLelland Statesville 

W.  A.  Brown Rocky  Point 

Dr.  J.  Vance  McGougan Fayetteville 

O.  Max  Gardner Shelby 

Mrs.  Edith  Vanderbilt Biltmore 

Directors  State  Sanatorium 

Dr.  T.  W.  M.  Long Roanoke  Rapids 

R.  K.  Blair Charlotte 

J.  C.  Thomas Raeford 

John  R.  Jones Sanford 

Union  L.  Spence Carthage 

W.  E.  Harrison Rockingham 

Jonas  Oettinger Wilson 

Dr.  Wm.  P.  Holt Duke 

Dr.  J.  C.  Braswell Whitakers 

Col.  Wiley  M.  Person Louisburg 

Members  Fisheries  Commission 

Robert  Lassiter Charlotte 

H.  V.  Grant Sneads  Ferry 

Frank  Stedman Fayetteville 

M.  B.  Hart Tarboro 

E.  S.  Askew Windsor 

Santford  Martin Winston-Salem 

H.  C.  Wall Rockingham 


328  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

George  Hampton Canton 

F.  S.  Worthy Washington 

J.  K.  Dixon Trenton 

J.  C.  Baum Poplar  Branch 

W.  O.  Saunders Elizabeth  City 

Directors  Eastern  Carolina  Training  School  for  Boys 

Dr.  J.  C.  Braswell Rocky  Mount 

R.  T.  Fountain Rocky  Mount 

Dr.  C.   F.   Strosnider Goldsboro 

Wilson  Lamb Williamston 

S.  C.  Sitterson Kinston 

Stone  Mountain  Memorial  Association 

Gen.  Julian  S.  Carr Durham 

Maj.  Z.  B.  Vance Asheville 

Gen.  A.  L.  Cox Raleigh 

Dr.  D.  H.  Hill Raleigh 

Col.  A.  H.  Boyden Salisbury 

Col.  Bennehan  Cameron Stagville 

WTTtT     T?    11  Briarcliff  Manor, 

.  W.  I"  uller N.  Y. 

O.  L.  Barringer Charlotte 

Gen.  W.  A.  Smith Ansonville 

Mrs.  Philip  Holt Rocky  Mount 

Mrs.  Junius  D.  Grimes Washington 

Judge  W.  A.  Hoke Raleigh 

Geo.  E.  Ransom Weldon 

W.  N.  Everett Raleigh 

Col.  Don  E.  Scott Graham 

Maj.  Chas.  M.  Stedman Greensboro 

North  Carolina  Historical  Commission 

Col.  J.  Bryan  Grimes Raleigh 

Heriot  Clarkson Charlotte 

W.  N.  Everett Raleigh 

Directors  State  School  for  Deaf  and  Dumb,  Morganton 

Jas.  F.  Barrett Asheville 

Dr.  Jenniss  Morrill Falkland 

A.  C.  Miller Shelby 

Mrs.  I.  P.  Jeter Morganton 

Dr.  Howard  E.  Ronthaler Winston-Salem 


Miscellaneous  Material  329 

Commissioners  Navigation  and  Pilotage 

Dr.  Jas.  Sprunt Wilmington 

C.  C.  Chadbourn Wilmington 

T.  F.  Wood Wilmington 

H.  C.  McQueen Wilmington 

Richard  Dosher Southport 

Directors  Old  Soldiers'  Home 

Miss  Martha  Haywood Raleigh 

Mrs._  R.  E.  Little Wadesboro 

Armistead  Jones Raleigh 

Gen.  Julian  S.  Carr Durham. 

Mrs.  H.  M.  London Raleigh 

State  Board  of  Charities 

W.  L.  Hutchins Lexington 

Wm.  A.  Blair Winston-Salem 

A.  W.  McAlister Greensboro 

Mrs.  Walter  F.  Woodard Wilson 

Directors  State  Hospital,  Goldsboro 

C.  P.  Aycock Pantego 

R.  T.  Wade Morehead  City 

L.  V.  Bassett Rocky  Mount 

John  D.  Robinson Wallace 

State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission 

R.  M.  Miller,  Jr Charlotte 

W.  A.  Hart Tarboro 

A.  M.  Scales Greensboro 

Chas.  S.  Wallace Morehead  City 

Dr.  D.  D.  Carroll Chapel  Hill 

Emmett  H.  Bellamy Wilmington 

Jos.  A.  Brown Chadbourn 

Dr.  J.  Y.  Joyner Raleigh 

Chas.  E.  Waddell AsheviUe 

Port  Commission 

J.  A.  Brown Chadbourn 

A.  J.  Draper Charlotte 

Wallace  B.  Davis AsheviUe 

Emmett  H.  Bellamy Wilmington 


330  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

George  Butler Clinton 

A.  M.  Scales Greensboro 

Chas.  S.  Wallace ■. Morehead  City 

Directors  N.  C.  College  for  Women 

Mrs.  R.  J.  Reynolds Winston-Salem 

Miss  Easdale  Shaw Rockingham 

Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Watts  (now  Mrs.  Cameron  Morrison) .  .  Durham 

Trustees  A.  and  E.  College 

E.  R.  Johnson Currituck 

W.  S.  Lee Charlotte 

Junius  F.  Diggs Rockingham 

Chas.  F.  Tomlinson High  Point 

Directors  State  Hospital,  Raleigh 

Jos.  G.  Brown Raleigh 

J.  H.  Briggs Henderson 

Mrs.  Marshall  F.  Williams Faison 

Dr.  L.  B.  Evans Windsor  J^ 

Felix  Harvey Kinston 

W.  L.  Parsons Rockingham 

L.  R.  Varser Lumberton 

John  F.  Wily Durham 

George  Howard Tarboro 

Mrs.  Willie  Green  Cohen Weldon 

Directors  State  Hospital,  Goldsboro 

C.  P.  Aycock Pantego 

Claiborne  M.  Carr Durham 

Dr.  John  D.  Robinson Wallace 

Capt.  Nathan  O'Berry Goldsboro 

Dr.  H.  M.  Horton Winston-Salem 

F.  B.  McKinne Louisburg 

H.  M.  Blue Laurinburg 

Directors  State  Prison 

James  A.  Leak Wadesboro 

E.  B.  Ficklen Greenville 

A.  L.  Bullock Rowland 

R.  M.  Chatham Elkin 

W.  M.  Sanders Smithfield 


Miscellaneous  Material  331 


Directors  State  Hospital,  Morganton 

C.  E.  Brooks Hendersonville 

J.  H.  Giles Glen  Alpine 

Dr.  G.  S.  Kirby Marion 

C.  C.  Cranford Asheboro 

John  M.  Scott Charlotte 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Stafford Asheville 

Sloan  M.  Robinson Gastonia 

A.  M.  Scales Greensboro 

J.  R.  Boyd Waynesville 

E.  P.  Wharton Greensboro 

Dr.  P.  R.  Bennett Bryson  City 

Directors  Caswell  Training  School 

Mrs.  L.  P.  Best Warsaw 

Charles  Dewey Goldsboro 

Dr.  J.  L.  McMillan Red  Springs 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Sitterson Kinston 

Dr.  M.  R.  Stephenson Seaboard 

A.  B.  Croom,  Jr Wilmington 

J.  P.  Bunn Bailey 

W.  P.  Anderson Wilson 

Dr.  I.  W.  Faison Charlotte 

W.  P.  Parsons Wadesboro 

J.  R.  Baggett Lillington 

James  F.  McMahon Raleigh 

Directors  Home  and  Industrial  School  for  Girls  and  Women 

AT  Samarcand 

R.  N.  Page Aberdeen 

C.  H.  Ireland Greensboro 

Mrs.  W.  N.  Everett Raleigh 

Mrs.  J.  R.  Page Aberdeen 

Dr.  A.  A.  McGeachy Charlotte 

State  Board  of  Vocational  Education 

Lenoard  Tufts Pinehurst 

W.  F.  Carr Durham 

State  Board  of  Health 

Dr.  A.  J.  Crowell Charlotte      ' 

Chas.  E.  Waddell Asheville 

Dr.  J.  Howell  Way Waynesville 

Jas.  P.  Stowe Charlotte 


332  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

0         State  Training  School  for  Negro  Boys 

M.  B.  Hart Tarboro 

W.  N.  Everett Raleigh 

L.  R.  Varser Lumberton 

Thad  Tate  (col.) Charlotte 

S.  G.  Atkins  (col.) Winston-Salem 

Library  Commission' 
Mrs.  W.  C.  Leak Rockingham 

Directors  Confederate  Women's  Home 

A.  H.  Boyden Salisbury 

Chas.  G.  Rose Fayetteville 

J.  W.  McLaughlin Raeford 

W.  H.  White Oxford 

T.  T.  Thorne Rocky  Mount 

Thos.  A.  Marshall Wadesboro 

Mrs.  Hunter  Smith Fayetteville 

Spencer  T.  Thorne Rocky  Mount 

Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad  Investigating  Committee 

T.  C.  Bowie Jefferson 

J.  G.  McCormick Wilmington 

E.  B.  Jeffries Greensboro 

Frank  Armfield Concord 

E.  W.  Timberlake Wake  Forest 

Commission  to  Investigate,  Etc.,  North  Carolina  and  Atlantic 
AND  North  Carolina  Railroads 

Col.  Bennehan  Cameron Staggville 

Maj.  W.  C.  Heath Monroe 

C.  D.  Bradham New  Bern 

T.  C.  Bowie Jefferson 

A.  J.  Draper Charlotte 

Board  of  Elections 

Clarence  Call Wilkesboro 

R.  T.  Claywell Morganton 

W.  J.  Davis Hendersonville 

Wilson  G.  Lamb Williamston 

B.  S.  Royster Oxford 

Col.  P.  M.  Fearsall New  Bern 

Walter  H.  Neal Laurinburg 


Miscellaneous  Material  333 

'^  Orthopedic  Hospital,  Gastonia 

J.  Lee  Robinson Gastonia 

R.  R.  Ray McAdenville 

Geo.  Blanton Shelby 

R.  B.  Babington Gastonia 

P.  C.  Whitlock Charlotte 

Jas.  Gordon  Hackett North  Wilkesboro 

Morgan  B,  Speir Charlotte 

Visiting  Surgeons  at  Hospital,  Morganton 

Dr.  A.  G.  Brenizer Charlotte 

Dr.  H.  F.  Long Statesville 

Dr.  W.  F.  Griffith Asheville 

Dr.  J.  S.  Stokes Salisbury 

Dr.  J.  T.  Burrus High  Point 

Dr.  Henry  Norris Rutherfordton 

Dr.  Alonzo  Myers Charlotte 

Visiting  Surgeons  at  Hospital,  Raleigh 

Dr.  J.  F.  Highsmith Fayetteville 

Dr.  T.  M.  Green Wilmington 

Dr.  Foy  Roberson Durham 

Dr.  J.  P.  Monroe Sanford 

Dr.  C.  A.  Woodard Wilson 

Dr.  Hubert  A.  Royster Raleigh 

Visiting  Specialists  at  Morganton  Hospital 

Dr.  H.  H.  Briggs Asheville 

Dr.  J.  P.  Matheson Charlotte 

Dr.  R.  V.  Brawley Salisbury 

Dr.  T.  W.  Davis Winston-Salem 

Dr.  C.  W.  Banner Greensboro 

Dr.  J.  W.  McConnell Davidson 

Internal  Medicine 

Dr.  B.  R.  Smith Asheville 

Dr.  L.  B.  Newell Charlotte 

Dr.  H.  B.  Hyatt High  Point 

Dr.  S.  F.  Pfohl Winston-Salem 

Dr.  H.  H.  Dodson Greensboro 

Dr.  Henry  Glenn Gastonia 

Visiting  Committee  of  All  State  Hospitals 
Dr.  Delia  Dixon  Carroll Raleigh 


334  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Visiting  Physicians  Hospital,  Raleigh 

Dr.  W.  W.  Green Tarboro 

Dr.  Hubert  Royster,  Jr Raleigh 

Dr.  T.  C.  Johnson Lumberton 

Dr.  C.  O'H.  Laughinghouse Greenville 

Dr.  W.  B.  McNider Chapel  Hill 

Dr.  E.  J.  Wood Wilmington 

Visiting  Eye,  Ear,  Nose  and  Throat  Specialists,  Raleigh 

Dr.  R.  S.  Beam Lumberton 

Dr.  J.  G.  Murphy Wilmington 

Dr.  S.  P.  McPherson Durham 

Dr.  Jas.  M.  Parrott Kinston 

Dr.  Jno.  B.  Wright Raleigh 

Dr.  Louis  N.  West Raleigh 

Trustees  A.  and  T.  College,  Greensboro 

Dr.  M.  C.  S.  Noble Chapel  Hill 

A.  M.  Scales Greensboro 

C.  M.  Vanstory Greensboro 

Dr.  Wm.  L.  Poteat Wake  Forest 

Text  Book  Commission 

T.  Wingate  Andrews Salisbury 

T.  R.  Foust Greensboro 

Miss  Mary  O.  Graham Charlotte 

Miss  Celeste  Henkel '. Statesville 

N.  F.  Steppe Marion 

Miss  Jane  C.  Sullivan Asheville 

C.  S.  Warren Hamlet 

Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad 

C.  D.  Bradham,  President-Director New  Bern 

W.  Stamps  Howard,  Secetary-Treasurer Tarboro 

W.  F.  Evans,  Attorney Raleigh 

W.  C.  Petty,  Proxy Charlotte 

Chas.  V.  Webb,  Auditor Morehead  City 

T.  Boddie  Ward,  Expert Wilson 

H.  D.  Bateman,  Director Wilson 

T.  Austin  Finch,  Director •. Thomasville 

Courtney  Mitchell,  Director Kinston 

W.  H.  McElwee,  Director Raleigh 

David  F.  McKinne,  Director Louisburg 


,,,,  Miscellaneous  Material  335 

Dr.  Jas.  F.  Patterson,  Director New  Bern 

Dr.  Jas.  F.  Patterson,  President New  Bern 

L.  W.  Tucker,  Proxy Greenville 

Ernest  M.  Green,  President New  Bern 

Walter  D.  Siler,  Attorney Pittsboro 

W.  B.  Blades,  Director New  Bern 

Mrs.  Palmer  Jerman,  Director Raleigh 

J.  M.  Carraway Merrimon 

M.  L.  Jones Goldsboro 

Finance  Committee,  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad 

Jno.  S.  Weskett Bayboro 

W.  M.  Webb Morehead  City 

J.  Y.  Joyner LaGrange 

Ben  E.  Smith Charlotte 

President  and  Directors  North  Carolina  Railroad 

Wade  H.  Harris,  President Charlotte 

Archibald  Johnson,  Secretary-Treasurer Thomas ville 

Chas.  F.  Dalton,  Expert Charlotte 

Ben.  J.  Smith,  Proxy Charlotte 

Richard  N.  Hackett,  Attorney North  Wilkesboro 

Jno.  F.  Bowles,  Director Statesville 

W.  T.  Brown,  Director Winston-Salem 

C.  W.  Johnston,  Director Charlotte 

Robt.  Lassiter,  Director Charlotte 

R.  W.  H.  Stone,  Director Greensboro 

William  Weill,  Director Charlotte 

Gilbert  C.  White,  Director Durham 

W.  B.  Drake,  Proxy Raleigh 

Wm.  H.  Maslin,  Director Winston-Salem 

Julius  A.  Rousseau Wilkesboro 

Highway  Commissioners 

John  S.  Hill Durham 

William  A.  Hart Tarboro 

John  McBee BakersviUe 

Rufus  A.  Doughton Sparta 

James  A.  Stikeleather Asheville 

J.  Elwood  Cox High  Point 

William  A.  McGIrt Wilmington 

W.  C.  Wilkinson Charlotte 

A.  M.  Kistler Morganton 

A.  S.  Hanes Winston-Salem 

J.  E.  Cameron Kinston 


336  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Wreckage  Commissioners 

M.  S.  Willard Wilmington 

Jodie  Styron Portsmouth,  Va. 

W.  L,  Gaskill Hatteras 

Luther  Y.  Gray Sylva 

H.  F.  Miller Buxton 

Russell  J.  Austin Hatteras 

Ira  Midgett Rodanthe 

A.  D.  Willis Morehead  City 

Frank  M.  Longest Beaufort 

Members   of   State    Board   of  Architectural  Examination  and 

Registration 

W.  C.  Northrup Winston-Salem 

W.  H.  Lord Asheville 

James  B.  Lynch Wilmington 

Members  of  North  Carolina  State  Board  of  Pharmacy 

E.  V.  Zoeller Tarboro 

Dr.  L  W.  Rose Rocky  Mount 

F.  W.  Hancock Oxford 

C.  P.  Greyer Morganton 

Members  of  State  Board  of  Chiropractic  Examiners 

Dr.  C.  L  Carlson Greensboro 

Dr.  W.  P.  Love Charlotte 

Dr.  Eugene  L.  Cox Winston-Salem 

Members  of  State  Board  of  Dental  Examiners 

Dr.  J.  S.  Spurgeon Hillsboro 

Dr.  J.  H.  Wheeler Greensboro 

Dr.  J.  S.  Betts Greensboro 

Dr.  C.  A.  Thompson Wilson 

Dr.  W.  T.  Martin Benson 

Dr.  J.  M.  Fleming Raleigh 

Dr.  F.  L.  Hunt Asheville 

Members  of  State  Board  of  Osteopathic  Examiners 

Dr.  W.  E.  Crutchfield Greensboro 

Dr.  M.  J.  Carson Wilmington 

Dr.  Frank  R.  Heine Greensboro 

Dr.  T.  T.  Spence Raleigh 

Dr.  S.  W.  Hoffman Statesville 


Miscellaneous  Material  337 

^^  State  Board  of  Veterinary  Examiners 

Dr.  R.  H.  Parker Gastonia 

Dr.  Wm.  Moore Raleigh 

Dr.  A.  C.  Jones High  Point 

Dr.  M.  J.  Ragland Salisbury 

State  Board  of  Accountancy 

R.  C.  Birmingham Charlotte 

S.  G.  Gardner Raleigh 

John  E.  Wilson Asheville 

George  Adams Charlotte 

Wright  Dixon Raleigh 

J.  D.  Hightower Greensboro 

State  Board  of  Registration  of  Engineers  and  Surveyors 

P.  H.  Daggett Chapel  Hill 

Harry  St.  George  Tucker Raleigh 

N.  S.  Mullican Mocksville 

Chas.  E.  Waddell Asheville 

Gilbert  C.  White Durham 

State  Board  of  Examiners  in  Optometry 

Dr.  W.  W.  Parker Lumberton 

Dr.  Robert  N.  Walker Winston-Salem 

Dr.  Sam  Levy .- Charlotte 

Dr.  A.  P.  Staley High  Point 

Trustees  of  Moses  G.  Cone  Memorial  Hospital 

Hugh  G.  Chatham Elkin 

J.  Elwood  Cox High  Point 

J.  L.  Patterson Winston-Salem 

Commissioners  of  Affidavits  for  State  of  North  Carolina  in 
District  of  Columbia 

Pearce  Home Washington,  D.  C. 

Isaac  R.  Hitt Washington,  D,  C. 

Commissioners  of  Affidavits  for  the  State  of  North  Carolina 

IN  Maryland 

Chas.  Henry  Hesse Baltimore 

William  E.  Schull Baltimore 

22 


338  Papers  of  Cameron  Morrison 

Commissioners  of  Affidavits  for  the  State  of  North  Carolina 

IN  Virginia 

D.  D.  Morrisette Norfolk 

Mrs.  B.  E.  Pollard Suffolk 

T.  N.  Stephenson Norfolk 

J.  L.  Bagby Danville 

E.  G.  Bagley Danville 

S.  B.  Parkinson Norfolk 

Charles  Alfred  Smith Norfolk 

Wm.  T.  Shannonhouse Norfolk 

J.  Walter  Hosier Suffolk 

Commissioners  of  Affidavits  for  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
IN  State  of  Pennsylvania 

Walter  Bell  Smith Philadelphia 

Thomas  J.  Hunt Philadelphia 

Commissioner  of  Affidavits  for  State  of  North  Carolina  in 

South  Carolina 
J.  F.  Richardson Pageland 

Commissioners  of  Affidavits  for  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
IN  the  State  of  New  York 

Chas.  E.  A.  McCarthy New  York 

Ella  F.  Braman New  York 

George  H.  Corey New  York 

Game  Wardens 

W.  C.  Lawson Hurdle  Mills 

T.  R.  Parker Buncombe  County 

W.  A.  Underwood New  Hanover  County 

H.  A.  Fetner Wake  County 

Walter  E.  Storey Alamance  County 

Samuel  Oliver Person  County 

Isaac  Fields Moore  County 

J.  F.  Paxton Mecklenburg  County 

Commissioner  to  Investigate  Cotton  Conditions  in  Egypt 

AND   India 
Philip  S.  Henry Asheville 

Cotton  Cooperative  Association 
U.  B.  Blalock Raleigh 


Miscellaneous  Material  339 

State  Constabulary 

John  Hall  Manning Raleigh 

J.  D.  Langston Goldsboro 

J.  E.  L.  Wade Wilmington 

G.  Roberts Asheville 

Gordon  Smith Raleigh 

Officers  for  the  Town  of  Pembroke* 
Mayors 

Neill  McEnniss 
M.  H.  Bidden 
D.  B.  McQueen 
C.  E.  McDaniel 

Commissioners 

William  M.  Lowrey 
R.  H.  Liverman 
J.  Q.  McCormick 
A.  M.  Breece 
J.  L.  Thaggard 
William  Lowry 


•  The  officers  of  Pembroke  are  appointed  by  the  Governor  annually.    During   his   term   of  office 
?fThe'oo°LSon:r^''^  "°'  "^P""*  ""^  '"""  *°  ^"°^^^^  ^'°^^^"  ^'  '«^^°^'  ^-t  did  rea^poTnt  sevfral 


INDEX 


A.  and  T,  College,  Greensboro,  trustees  of,  334. 
Aberdeen,  car  inspector  at,  287. 
Adams,  Ada,  in  State  Prison,  315. 
Dan  W.,  telegram  to,  255. 
George,  appointment  of,  337. 
W.  J.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Adjutant  General,  325. 
Agricultural    and    Engineering    College,    must   be   made   adequate,    7; 

trustees  of,  330. 
Agricultural  Department,  144,  159. 
Albemarle  Sound,  41. 
Allen,  A.  T.,  appointment  of,  301,  325;  letter  to,  301;  letter  from,   303. 

O.  H.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Alumni  Association  of  New  York,  endorse  University  program,  296. 
Amendment  and  Water  Transportation,  63. 
Amendment,  64. 

State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation  Commission,  65. 
Cape  Fear  ana  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,  67. 
Consignor's  Right  to  Route  his  Freight,  71. 
Establishing  a  great  Commercial  City,  72. 
May  not  Build  Cities,  73. 
Water  Transportation,  74. 
Freight  Rates,  75. 
Recommendations  of  the  State  Ship  and  Water  Transportation 

Commission,  85. 
Recommendations  for  necessary  Legislation,  94. 
American  Federation  of  Labor,  292 
American  Legion,  170;  membership  campaign,  141. 
Red  Cross,  294. 

Road  Builders  Association,  307. 
Anderson,  W.  P.,  appointment  of,  33,  331. 
Andrews,  A.  B.,  appointment  of,  326. 
T.  Wingate,  appointment  of,  334. 
"Angel  Dream,"  187. 

Appalachian  Training  School  in  Boone,  199;  and  Western  North  Caro- 
lina Railroad,  326. 
Appointments,  97,  325. 
Appropriation  Committees,  20. 
Appropriations  Committee,  56;  action  of,  248. 
Arbor  Day,. mentioned,  133,  297. 
Armfield,  Frank,  appointment  of,  332. 


342  Index 

Armistice  Day,  107,  119,  127,  134. 

Asheville,  69,  88,  105;  conference  at,  161. 

Askew,  E.  S.,  appointment  of,  327. 

Atkins,  S.  G.,  appointment  of,  332. 

Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad,  70,  279,  280. 

Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad,  174;  directors  of,  334;  members 

of  Finance  Committee,  335. 
Auditing  Committee,  249. 
Austin,  Russell  J.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Aycock,  Charles  B.,  leadership  of,  against  ignorance,  6. 
C.  P.,  appointment  of,  32,  329,  330. 

B 

Babbington,  R.  B.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Baggett,  J.  R.,  appointment  of,  331. 

Bagby,  J.  L.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Bagley,  E.  G.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Bailey,  J.  W.,  letter  from,  270. 

Baker,  L.  J.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Baltimore,  77. 

Barnhill,  M.  V.,  appointment  of,  325. 

Bank  Commissioner,  23. 

Banking  Department,  47. 

Banner,  C.  W.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Barrett,  Jas.  F.,  appointment  of,  328;  telegram  to, 

Barringer,  O.  L.,  appointment  of,  328. 

Bassett,  L.  V.,  appointment  of,  329. 

Bateman,  H.  D.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Battle,  George  Gordon,  signed  telegram,  296. 

Battle,  S.  Westray,  appointment  of,  34,  326,  327. 

Mrs.  S.  Westray,  appointment  of,  326. 
Baum,  J.  C,  appointment  of,  328. 
Bay  River,  41. 


283,  291. 


Bay  River,  41. 

Bayboro,  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 

Beam,  R.  S.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Beaufort,  50,  174. 

Belhaven,  50;  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 

Belk,  J.  M.,  appointment  of,  31;  resigned,  35. 

Belk,  W.  H.,  appointment  of,  33. 

Bellamy,  Emmett  H.,  appointment  of,  329;  member  c 

264. 
Bennett,  P.  R.,  appointment  of,  331. 
Best,  Mrs.  L.  P.,  appointment  of,  331. 
Betts,  J.  S.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Bickett,  Governor  T.  W.,  administration  of,  242,  314. 


Index  343 

Biddell,  M.  H.,  appointment  of,  339. 
Birmingham,  R.  C,  appointment  of,  337. 
Blades,  W.  B.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Blair,  Wm.  A.,  appointment  of,  60,  329. 

R.  K.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Blalock,  U.  B.,  appointment  of,  338. 
Blanton,  Geo.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Blue,  H.  M.,  appointment  of,  330. 

L.  M.,  appointment  of,  33. 
Board  of  Agriculture,  members  of,  327. 
Board  of  Charities  and  Public  Welfare,  request  withdrawn  from,  242. 

Education,  145;  estimate  of,  226;  of  State,  221. 

Elections,  members  of,  332. 

Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  257. 
Boll  weevil,  must  fight  him  with  food,  144. 
Bostic,  72. 
Boston,  51,  77. 

Bowie,  T.  C,  appointment  of,  332. 
Bowie's  railroad  propositions,  237. 
Bowles,  Jno.  F.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Boyden,  A.  H.,  appointment  of,  328,  332. 
Boyd,  J.  R.,  appointment  of,  35,  331;  director,  204. 
Boyette,  J.  M.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Bradham,  C.  D.,  appointment  of,  332,  334. 
Brady,  David,  signed  telegram,  296. 
Bragg,  a  Democrat,  89;  days  of,  88. 
Braman,  Ella  F.,  appointment  of,  338. 
Branson,  E.  C,  mentioned,  269. 
Braswell,  J.  C,  appointment  of,  327,  328. 
Brawley,  R.  V.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Breece,  A.  M.,  appointment  of,  339. 
Brenizer,  A.  G.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Bridges,  James  H.,  appointment  of,  32. 
Briggs,  J.  H.,  appointment  of,  330. 

H.  H.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Brock,  Walter  E.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Brooks,  A.  L.,  associated  with  Manning,  260. 

C.  E.,  appointment  of,  331;  director,  204. 

E.  C,  elected  president,  304;  letter  to,  302;  letter  from,  302;  succeeded, 
301;  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  206. 
Brown,  George  H.,  appointment  of,  325. 

Jas.  A.,  appointment  of,  329;  member  of  commission,  264.     . 

Joseph  G.,  appointment  of,  32,  330;  director,  204. 

Joseph  A.,  member  of  commission,  90. 

W.  A.,  appointment  of,  327;  presidential  elector,  137. 

W.  T.,  appointment  of,  335. 


344  Index 

Buchanan,  C.  C,  presidential  elector,  137. 

Budget  Commission,   17,  20,  43,  56,  57,   59;  estimate,  215;  minority 

member  of,  326;  recommendation  of,  55,  238,  248,  249;  statement  to, 

252. 
Building  Commission,  26,  27. 

Bullock,  A.  L.,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  204;  signed  report,  315. 
Bulwinkle,  Major  A.  L.,  record  of,  210. 
"Bundle  Day,"  122. 

Bunn,  James  P.,  appointment  of,  33,  331. 
Bureau  of  Child  Welfare,  142. 

Burns,  Robert,  189;  birth,  188;  patriotism  of,  190;  poetry  of,  191,  192. 
Burrus,  J.  T.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Busbee,  R.  S.,  appointment  of,  33,  327. 

S.  J.,  signed  report,  315;  warden,  316.  > 

Butler,  George,  appointment  of,  330,  telegram  to,  308. 
Byron,  genius  of,  189. 

C 

Cabarrus  County,  address  to  people  of,  291;  industrial  forces  of,  164; 

people  must  respect  laws  of,  104;  troops  sent  to,  165. 
California,  prison  system  in,  319. 
Call,  Clarence,  appointment  of,  332. 
Caldwell,  Dr.  David,  dream  of,  87. 
Cameron,  Bennehan,  appointment  of,  328,  332. 

John  E.,  appointment  of,  60,  335. 
Camp  McClellan,  124. 
Cannon,  Chas.  A.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Felix,  telegram  to,  282;  telegram  from,  280. 
Cape  Fear  basin,  a  city  in,  73;  River,  42. 
Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,  67,  69,  71,  259;  Investigating 

Committee,  members  of,  332. 
Cape  Lookout,  a  city  at,  73. 
Carey,  George  H.,  appointment  of,  338. 
Carlson,  C.  I.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Carolina  Central  Branch  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  69. 
Carolina  Central  Railroad,  80. 
Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio,  70. 
Carr,  Claiborne  M.,  appointment  of,  32,  330. 

Julian  S.,  appointment  of,  328,  329. 

W.  F.,  appointment  of,  331. 
Carraway,  J.  M.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Carroll,  D.  D.,  appointment  of,  329;  member  of  commission,  90,  264; 
of  University,  mentioned,  269. 

Delia  Dixon,  appointment  of,  333. 
Carson,  M.  J.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Carteret  County,  43. 


Index  345 

Carthage,  Stubbs,  carried  towards,  287. 

Caswell  Training  School,  directors  of,  331. 

Central  North  Carolina,  fish  hatcheries  in,  45;  fish  in  streams  of,  212; 

streams  of,  176,  177;  waterways  in,  241. 
Chadbourn,  C.  C,  appointment  of,  329. 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  action  of,  305;  of  Charlotte,  258. 
Charleston,  70,  72,  81. 
Charlotte,  69,  80,  83,  88,  174. 
Chatham,  R.  M.,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  204;  signed  report,  315. 

Hugh  G.,  appointment  of,  337. 
Chesapeake  Bay,  oysters  planted  in,  42. 
Chicago,  70;  Great  Fire  of,  118. 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court,  325. 
Chowan  River,  41. 

Christian,  Geo.  B.,  Jr.,  letter  from,  292. 
Christmas,  186. 

Citizens  Military  Training  Camp,  124,  278. 
Civil  War,  170,  182. 
Clark,  Judge,  chief  counsel,  52. 
Clarkson,  Francis  O.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Heriot,  appointment  of,  300,  301,  325,  328;  letter  to,  301;  letter  from, 
301 ;  telegram  to,  300. 
Claywell,  R.  T.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Clean-up  Week,  121. 

Clement,  Miss  Exum,  appointment  of,  31. 
Cochrane,  Sheriff  W.  O.,  165. 
Cohen,  Mrs.  Willie  Green,  appointment  of,  330. 
College,  girls  and  boys  sent  to,  6. 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  325. 

of  Banks,  22. 

of  Revenue,  325. 

of  Taxation  and  Revenue,  21,  23. 
Common  schools,  6. 

Concord,  103;  Morrison's  speech  at,  283;  troops  at,  290. 
Confederate  soldiers,  receives  help,  202. 

Woman's  Home,  directors  of,  332. 
Congress,  Democrats  in,  236. 
Congress  of  United  States,  209. 
Connor,  H.  G.,  issued  injunction,  112,  231. 

Geo.  W.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Constitution,  61,  93,  171,  226;  amendment  to,  40,  62,  63,  64;  makers  of, 
25;   places   executive  power  in  Governor's   office,   23;   provided  for 
special  session,  28;  of  North  Carolina,  157;  of  United  States,  157,  170. 
Consolidated  Press  Association,  telegrcmi  from,  308. 
Cornwell,  J.  L.,  letter  from,  280. 


346  Index 

Corporation    Commission,    21,    272,    273,    274;   composed   of   splendid 
gentlemen,  48;  duties  exercised  by,  22;  duty  of,  relative  to  banks,  47. 
Cotton  Commission,  members  of,  326. 

Cotton  conditions  in  Egypt  and  India,  commissioner  to  investigate,  338. 
Cotton  Cooperative  Association,  member  of,  338. 
Council  of  State,  225,  260,  261,  304;  advice  of,  29,  61. 
Councilors  of  State,  206,  207. 
County  commissioners,  21. 
Cox,  Albert  L.,  appointment  of,  328;  State  Civilian  Aide,  125. 

Eugene  L.,  appointment  of,  336. 

J.  Elwood,  appointment  of,  326,  335,  337;  on  Highway  Commission, 
208. 
Craig  administration,  82. 
Craig,  Mrs.  Locke,  telegram  to,  308. 
Cranford,  C.  C,  appointment  of,  31,  331;  director,  204. 
Criminal  Insane  Department,  establishment  of,  318. 
Cripple  Census  Week,  142. 

Croatan  Sound,  41.  - 

Croom,  A.  B.,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  331. 
Crowell,  A.  J.,  appointment  of,  331. 
Crutchfield,  W.  E.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Currituck  Court  House,  74;  Sound,  41. 

D 

Daggett,  P.  H.,  appointment  of,  337. 

Dalton,  Chas.  F.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Daniels,  Josephus,  State  Chairman,  102. 

Dare  County,  92. 

Davidson,  179. 

Davidson,  Mrs.  Theodore,  appointment  of,  326. 

Davis,  Wallace  B.,  appointment  of,  329. 

T.  W.,  appointment  of,  333. 

W.  J.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Dayton,  T.  W.,  telegram  to,  255. 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute,  198. 
Declaration  of  Independence,  170,  171. 
Democrats,  218. 

Democratic  Party,  196,  197,  235,  239;  record  of,  195. 
Department  of  Agriculture,  46. 
Department  of  Banking,  recommended,  45. 
Department  of  Commerce,  258,  309;  and  Industry,  recommended,  45; 

of  University  of  North  Carolina,  37. 
Department  of  Education,  144,  145. 
Department  of  Health,  5,  146. 
Department  of  Justice,  68;  to  provide  inspectors,  10. 


Index  347 

Department  of  Labor,  46. 

Department  of  Taxation  and  Revenue,  21. 

Department  of  Vocational  Rehabilitation,  142. 

Department  of  Water  Transportation,  recommended,  46. 

Dewar,  R.  A.,  mentioned,  56. 

Dewey,  Charles,  appointment  of,  33,  331. 

Diggs,  Junius  F.,  appointment  of,  330. 

Directorate  for  Institutional  Appropriations,  26. 

Division  435,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  283;  telegram  from, 
281. 

Dixon,  J.  K.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Wright,  appointment  of,  337. 

Doane,  187. 

Dodson,  H.  H.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Dosher,  Richard,  appointment  of,  329. 

Doughton,  R.  A.,  appointment  of,  325,  335;  Chairman  Finance  Com- 
mittee, 55;  mentioned,  56,  245,  265. 

Drane,  Brent  S.,  appointment  of,  258,  326. 

Drake,  W.  B.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Draper,  A.  J.,  appointment  of,  329,  332. 

Dudding,  E.  E.,  statements  in  press  by,  313. 

Durham,  Baxter,  attend  conference,  306;  State  Auditor,  206. 

Duplin  County,  265. 

E 

Eastern  North  Carolina,  inlet  to  the  fisheries  of,  45;  sounds  and  rivers 

in,  177;  waterways,  270. 
East  Carolina  Training  School  at  Greenville,  199. 
Eastern  Carolina  Training  School  for  Boys,  directors  of,  328. 
Edenton,  50;  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 
Edgecombe  County,  sheriff  of,  231,  279. 
Education,  6. 

Educational  institutions  of  North  Carolina,  additional  bonds  for,  39. 
Elkhorn,  70. 
Elizabeth  City,  50,  199. 
Elon  College,  179;  burned,  147. 
England,  51. 
Eutsler,  Roland  B.,  68w. 
Evans,  Leslie  B.,  appointment,  32. 

L.  B.,  appointment  of,  330. 

W.  F.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Everett,  R.  O.,  appointment  of,  326. 

W.  N.,  55;  appointment  of,  325,  328,  332;  attend  conference,  306; 
mentioned,  56. 

Mrs.  W.  N.,  appointment  of,  331. 


348  Index 


Faison,  I.  W.,  appointment  of,  34,  331. 
Farrar,  Roach,  wages  per  week,  61. 
Fayetteville,  74. 
Federal  court,  260. 
Federation  of  Labor,  160. 
Ferguson,  Garland  S.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Fetner,  H.  A.,  appointment  of,  338. 
Few,  W.  P.,  appointment  of,  326. 
Ficklen,  E.  B.,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  205. 
Fields,  Isaac,  appointment  of,  338, 
Finance  Committee,  20. 
Finch,  T.  Austin,  appointment  of,  334. 
Finley,  John  T.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Fire  Prevention  Day,  105,  106,  117,  118,  132. 
Fire  Underwriters,  Local  Board  of,  305. 
Fisheries  Commission,  46;  members  of,  327. 
Fleming,  J.  M.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Florence,  70. 

Ford,  Henry,  not  allowed  to  reduce  rates,  50. 
Foreign  Wars,  Veterans  of,  148. 

Forest  Protection  Week,  147;  North  Carolina  to  observe,  299;  proclama- 
tion, 298;  set  apart,  297. 
Fort  Barancas,  124. 
Fort  Bragg,  124. 

Fountain,  R.  T.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Foust,  T.  R.,  appointment  of,  334. 
France,  51. 
Freight  rates,  73. 
Fuller,  A.  N.,  telegram  to,  255. 

W.  W.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Funeral  services  of  President  Harding,  125. 

G 

Game  Wardens,  list  of,  338. 

Gardner,  O.  Max,  appointment  of,  327;  mentioned,  267. 
S.  G.,  appointment  of,  337. 

Gaskill,  W.  L.,  appointment  of,  336. 

Gay,  C.  L.,  letter  from,  280. 

Geological  Board,  members  of,  327. 

General  Assembly,  23,  25,  225,  240;  acts  passed  by  relative  to  corporal 
punishment,  314;  authorizing  the  great  sum  of  money,  9;  committees 
of,  9;  contest  before,  201;  dominated  by  will  and  determination,  37; 
Finance  Committees  of,  20;  members  of,  6G;  of  1921  levied  ample 


Index  349 

taxes,  217;  providing  for  a  completed  system,  11;  recommendation  to, 
45,  94;  special  session  of,  61,  64,  233;  taxes  levied  by,  239;  thanked,  3; 
to  address  on  subject  of  taxation,  12;  to  ascertain  revenue  needed,  18; 
urged  to  establish  Department  of  Commerce,  47;  urged  to  set  up 
water  competition,  51;  work  of,  26. 
Germany,  51. 

Giles,  Clayton,  signed  resolves,  306. 
D.  F.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
J.  H.,  appointment  of,  31,  331,  director,  204. 
Gilliam,  Donnell,  appointment  of,  326. 
Glenn,  Henry,  appointment  of,  333. 
Goldsboro,  11^  88,  174;  Insane  Asylum  at,  214;  institution  for  insane  at, 

202. 
Gompers,  Samuel,  letter  from,  292. 
Good  roads,  7. 

Governor,  expressions  of  good  will  on  election  of,  3 ;  power  to  appoint,  23 . 
Graham,  Alexander,  leadership  of,  against  ignorance,  6. 
Miss  Mary  O.,  appointment  of,  334. 
W.  A.,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  325. 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  170. 
Grant,  H.  V.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Gray,  James  A.,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Luther  Y.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Greece,  237. 

Greene,  Ernest  M.,  appointment  of,  335. 
T.  M.,  appointment  of,  333. 
W.  W.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Greensboro,  74,  83,  88;  Female  College,  179;  News,  291;  News,  head- 
lines in,  250;  Record,  mentioned,  263. 
Greyer,  C.  P.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Griffith,  W.  F.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Grimes,  J.  Bryan,  Secretary  of  State,  206;  appointment  of,  328. 

Mrs.  Junius  D.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Grove  Park  Inn,  Cameron  Morrison  at,  243. 

H 

Hackett,  Jas.  Gordon,  appointment  of,  333. 

Richard  N.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Hamlet,  trains  run  out  in  dangerous  condition,  281. 
Hampton,  George,  appointment  of,  328. 
Hancock,  F.  W.,  appointment  of,  336. 

F.  W.,  Jr.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Hanes,  A.  S.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Hardaway  Construction  Company,  229. 
Harding,  Warren  G.,  a  memorial  for,  148;  death  of,  249,  254;  letter  to, 


350  Index 

295;  memory  of,  306;  President,  297;  proclamation  by,  298;  telegram 
to,  279,  286,  294;  telegram  from,  278,  286,  294. 
Harding,  Mrs.  Warren  G.,  telegram  to,  306. 
Harding   Memorial,    active    State    Chairman,    326;    Association,    148; 

Week,  148. 
Harding's  administration,  236;  Republicans  heartbroken  over,  209. 
Harper,  Dr.  W.  A.,  President,  147. 
Harris,  J.  J.,  appointment  of,  327. 

J.  T.,  electrocution  of,  229. 

Dr.  T.  F.,  signed  telegram,  296. 

Paul,  229. 

Wade  H.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Harrison,  Fairfax,  telegram  to,  293. 

W.  E.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Hart,  M.  B.,  appointment  of,  327,  332. 

William  A.,  appointment  of,  329,  335;  member  of  commission,  90, 
264;  on  Highway  Commission,  208. 
Harvey,  Felix,  appointment  of,  32,  330;  director,  204. 
Hayes,  Will  H.,  chairman,  294. 
Haywood,  Miss  Martha,  appointment  of,  329. 
Health  Department,  144. 
Heath,  W.  C,  appointment  of,  332. 
Heine,  Frank  R.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Henkel,  Miss  Celeste,  appointment  of,  334. 
Henry,  Philip  S.,  262;  appointment  of,  338. 
Hertford,  need  to  assemble  products,  92. 
Hesse,  Chas.  Henry,  appointment  of,  337. 
High  Point,  263. 

Hightower,  J.  D.,  appointment  of,  337. 
Highsmith,  J.  F.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Highway  commissioners,  335. 

Hill,  John  Sprunt,  appointment  of,  60,  335;  on  Highway  Commission, 
208. 

D.  H.,  appointment  of,  328. 

Isaac,  appointment  of,  337. 
Hindenburg  line,  168. 
Hinton,  Mary  H.,  appointment  of,  326. 
Hoffman,  S.  W.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Hoke,  W.  A.,  appointment  of,  325,  328. 
Hollenga,  Dan  S.,  American  Legion,  141. 
Holmes,  J.  S.,  State  Geologist,  257. 
Holt,  Mrs.  PhiHp,  appointment  of,  328. 

Wm.  P.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Home  Demonstration  Agents,  143. 

Home   and    Industrial   School   for  Girls   and   Women   at   Samarcand, 
directors  of,  331. 


Index  351 


Hoover,  Herbert,  letter  to,  292;  telegram  from,  309, 
Home,  Charles  W.,  appointment  of,  33,  327. 

Herman  H.,  signed  telegram,  296. 

Pearce,  appointment  of,  337. 
Horton,  H.  M.,  appointment  of,  32,  330.        '--' 
Hosier,  J.  Walter,  appointment  of,  338. 
House  of  Representatives,  members  of,  62. 
Howard,  George,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  204. 

W.  Stamps,  appointment  of,  334. 
Hoyle,  K.  R.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Hunt,  Thomas  J.,  appointment  of,  338. 

F.  L.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Hunter,  Carey  J.,  appointment  of,  31;  mentioned,  60. 
Hutchins,  W.  L.,  appointment  of,  60,  329. 
Hyatt,  H.  B.,  appointment  of,  333. 


Illinois,  food  supplies  purchased  in,  184. 
Inaugural  Address  of  Governor  Morrison,  3. 

Law  enforcement,  4. 

Health,  5. 

Education,  6. 

Good  roads.  7. 

Cost  of  the  entire  program,  11. 

Taxation,  12. 

Other  subjects,  13. 

As  to  entire  program,  13. 
Increased  Food  Production,  143. 

Fight  weevil  with  food,  144. 

Departments  cooperating,  144. 

We  must  increase  our  home  supply  of  meat,  145. 

Appeal  to  all  the  people,  145. 
Indian  Normal  School  at  Pembroke,  199. 
Indianapolis,  70. 
Insane  Asylum,  198. 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  22,  48,  51,  53,  62,  68,  76,  79,  80,  81, 

82,  85,  270,  309. 
Interstate  Commerce  Act,  83. 
Institutions  for  the  unfortunate,  5. 
Iowa,  food  supplies  purchased  In,  184. 
Ireland,  C.  H.,  appointment  of,  331. 


352  Index 

J 

Jackson  County,  199. 

Japan  distressed,  126. 

Japanese  Disaster,  126. 

Jeffries,  E.  B.,  appointment  of,  332. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  statesmanship  of,  192. 

Jenkins,  T.  M.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Jerman,  Mrs.  Palmer,  appointment  of,  335, 

Jeter,  Mrs.  I.  P.,  appointment  of,  328. 

JewishRelief  Week,  110. 

Jimison,  T.  P.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Johnson,  Archibald,  appointment  of,  335. 

Mrs.  Clarence,  199. 

Hiram,  representing  populistic  Republicanism,  210. 

Kate  Burr,  letter  to,  299. 

E.  R.,  appointment  of,  330. 

T.  C,  appointment  of,  334. 

Mrs.  J.  Edward,  thanked,  221. 
Johnston,  C.  W.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Jones,  Armistead,  appointment  of,  329. 

A.  C,  appointment  of,  337. 

John  R.,  appointment  of,  327. 

M.  L.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Joyner,  J.  Y.,  appointment  of,  329,  335;  member  of  commission,  90,  264. 
Justice,  E.  J.,  mentioned,  271. 
Just  Freight  Rates  Association,  267. 

K 

Kenly,  J.  R.,  letter  from,  290. 

Kinston,  77,  174;  feeble-minded  children  at,  214;  institution  for  feeble- 
minded children  at,  202. 
Kirby,  G.  S.,  appointment  of,  31,  331. 
Kistler,  Andrew  M.,  appointment  of,  59,  335. 
Kitchin,  Claude,  210. 
Kiwanis  Clubs,  159. 
Ku  Klux  Klan,  aid  in  controlling,  294;  mentioned,  295. 

L 

Labor  Legislative  Committee,  mentioned,  296. 

Lacy,  B.  R.,  attend  conference,  306;  State  Treasurer,  206;  mentioned,  56. 
LaFollette,  representing  populistic  Republicanism,  210. 

Lamb,  Wilson,  appointment  of,  328.  , 

Wilson,  G.,  appointment  of,  332.  j 

Langeston,  J.  D.,  appointment  of,  339. 


Index  353 


Langston,  John  B.,  appointment  of,  97. 
Lassiter,  Robert,  appointment  of,  327,  335. 

Robert  G.,  resigned,  35. 
Laughinghouse,  C.  O'H.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Law  and  order  in  Cabarrus  County,  103. 
Law  enforcement,  4. 
Lawson,  W.  C,  appointment  of,  338. 
League  of  Nations,  262. 
Leak,  James  A.,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  204;  signed  report,  315. 

Mrs.  W.  C,  appointment  of,  332. 
Leary,  Herbert  R.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Lee,  W.  S.,  appointment  of,  330. 
Legislative  department  must  provide  courts,  4. 
Levy,  Sam,  appointment  of,  337. 
Library  Commission,  member  of,  332. 
Little,  Mrs.  R.  E.,  appointment  of,  329. 
Liverman,  R.  H.,  appointment  of,  339. 
Local  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  305. 
London,  Henry  M.,  letter  from,  304. 

Mrs.  H.  M.,  appointment  of,  329. 
Long,  H.  F.,  appointment  of,  333. 

T.  W.  M.,  appointment  of,  327. 

W.  L.,  mentioned,  243. 
Longest,  Frank  M.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Lord,  W.  H.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Louisville  and  Nashville,  70. 
Love,  Hugh  A.,  mentioned,  322;  signed  report,  315. 

W.  P.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Lowry,  William,  appointment  of,  339. 
Lowrey,  William  M.,  appointment  of,  339. 
Lumberton,  77,  83. 

Lynch,  James  B.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Lyon,  C.  C,  appointment  of,  325. 

M 

Manning,  Attorney-General  James  S.,  206,  261;  directed  to  bring  suit, 
259;  letter  to,  300;  prepare  an  act,  268. 

John  Hall,  appointment  of,  97,  339. 

I.  M.,  received  thanks,  277. 
Maslin,  Wm.  H.,  appointment  of,  335.  ^ 

Massachusetts,  51. 

Marshall,  Thos.  A.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Marion,  70. 

President  Harding  interred  at,  125. 

23 


354  Index 

Martin,  Santford,  appointment  of,  327. 

W.  T.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Matheson,  J.  P.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Matthews,  J.  H.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Mauney,  R.  S.,  telegram  from,  280. 
Maxwell,  A.  J.,  press  reports  by,  54;  his  statement,  54;  work  on  revenue 

bill,  244,  245. 
Meredith  College,  179. 
Medical  Society  of  North  Carolina,  277. 
Medicine,  Internal,  members  appointed,  333. 
Mendenhall,  Senator  O.  E.,  discussion  between,  263. 
Message  to  the  General  Assembly,  1923,  36. 

Institutions  for  defectives  and  unfortunates  and  for  higher  learn- 
ing, 37. 

Road  program,  39. 

Constitutional  amendments  limiting  the  State's  indebtedness,  40. 

Completed  program  for  the  continued  progress  of  the  State,  41. 

Game  and  Commercial  Industry,  41. 

Department  of  Commerce  and  Industry,  46. 

A  Banking  Department,  47. 

Ship  and  Port  Commission  Department  of  water  transportation,  48. 
Metts,  General  J.  Van  B.,  231;  appointment  of,  325;  directed  to  with- 
draw troops,  232;  dispatched,  255;  to  order  forces  to  Rocky  Mount, 
112;  troops  under,  167. 
Midyette,  Garland  E.,  appointment  of,  325. 

Ira,  appointment  of,  336. 
Miller,  A.  C,  appointment  of,  328. 

H.  F.,  appointment  of,  336. 

R.  M.,  member  of  commission,  90. 

R.  M.,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  329. 

T.  M.,  member  of  commission,  264. 
Minnesota,  prison  system  in,  319. 
Missouri,  food  supplies  purchased  in,  184. 
Mitchell,  Courtney,  appointment  of,  334. 
Monnish,  F.  W.,  killed,  229n. 
Monroe,  J.  P.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Moody,  of  Treasury  Department,  55. 
Moody,  W.  F.,  letter  from,  296. 
Moore  County,  198. 
Moore,  Wm.,  appointment  of,  337. 
Morehead  City,  42,  43,  50,  51,  69;  a  city  at,  73 ;  need  to  assemble  products 

at,  92. 
Morehead,  John  M.,  a  Whig,  89;  days  of,  88;  dream  of,  87. 
Morganton  Hospital,  visiting  specialists  at,  333;  visiting  surgeons  at,  333. 
Morganton,  Insane  Asylum  at,  214;  institution  for  insane  at,  202. 
Morrill,  Jenniss,  appointment  of,  328. 


Index  355 

Morrisette,  D.  D.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Morrison,  Cameron,  29,  30,  63,  236,  266;  commended,  306;  favors  an 
amortization  fund,  268;  issue  proclamation,  61;  letter  to,  277,  279,  287, 
291,  292,  298,  301,  302,  303,  304;  letter  fro^n,  291,  293,  294,  300,  302, 
303,  307;  made  announcement,  267;  offered  reward,  317;  proclamation 
by,  101,  102,  103,  105,  107,  108,  110,  111,  112,  113,  115,  117,  119,  121, 
122,  123,  124,  125,  126,  127,  128,  129,  130,  131,  132,  133,  134,  135, 
136;  Port  Bill,  263;  salary  of,  61;  telegram  to,  278,  280,  281,  284,  288, 

294,  296,  306,  308;  telegram  from,  255,  279,  282,  283,  287,  291,  293, 

295,  300,  308. 

Moses  G.  Cone  Memorial  Hospital,  trustees  of,  337. 

Mothers'  Day,  101,  111,  123,  130. 

Mount  Airy,  71. 

MuUican,  N.  S.,  appointment  of,  337. 

Municipal  Finance  Act,  225,  226;  unconstitutional,  29. 

Murphy,  J.  G.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Myers,  Alonzo,  appointment  of,  333. 

Mc 

McAllister,  A.  W.,  appointment  of,  60,  329. 
McBee,  John,  appointment  of,  335. 

John  C,  resigned,  59. 
McBrayer,  L.  B.,  application  for  pardon,  256;  letter  from,  111 ,  21S. 
McConnell,  J.  W.,  appointment  of,  333. 
McCoin,  R.  S.,  mentioned,  56;  on  committee,  56. 
McCormick,  J.  G.,  appointment  of,  326,  332. 

J.  Q.,  appointment  of,  339. 
McCarthy,  Chas.  E.  A.,  appointment  of,  338. 
McDaniel,  C.  E.,  appointment  of,  339. 
McDowell  County,  70. 
McEnniss,  Neill,  appointment  of,  339. 
McGirt,  W.  A.,  appointment  of,  60,  335. 
McGeachy,  A.  A.,  appointment  of,  331. 
McGougan,  J.  Vance,  appointment  of,  327. 

Mclver,  Charles  Duncan,  181;  leadership  of,  against  ignorance,  6. 
McKinne,  David  F.,  appointment  of,  334. 

F.  B.,  appointment  of,  33,  330. 
McLaughlin,  J.  W.,  appointment  of,  332. 
McLean,  A.  W.,  appointment  of,  326. 
McLelland,  W.  B.,  appointment  of,  327. 
McElwee,  W.  H.,  appointment  of,  334. 
McMahon,  James  F.,  appointment  of,  327,  331. 
McMillian,  J.  L.,  appointment  of,  34,  331. 
McNeill,  A.  L.,  appointment  of,  33,  327. 
McNider,  W.  B.,  appointment  of,  334. 


356  Index 

McPherson,  S.  P.,  appointment  of,  334. 
McQueen,  D.  B.,  appointment  of,  339. 

H.  C,  appointment  of,  329. 
McRoberts,  Tenn.,  70. 


N 

Nash,  M.  W.,  appointment  of,  326. 
Samuel,  appointment  of,  326. 

Nash  County,  sheriff  of,  231,  279. 

National  Coal  Commission,  questions  of  dispute  before,  284. 

National  Committeeman  for  North  Carolina,  Dan  S.  Hollenga,  141. 

National  Defense,  131. 

National  Memorial  Day,  148. 

Naval  Academy,  56. 

Navigation  and  Pilotage,  commissioners  of,  329. 

Neal,  Walter  H.,  appointment  of,  332. 

Near  East  Clothing  Warehouse,  123. 

Near  East,  people  of,  122. 

Near  East  Relief,  102,  237,  238,  294. 

Nebraska,  food  supplies  purchased  in,  184. 

Newell,  L.  B.,  appointment  of,  333. 

New  Bern,  50,  69,  83;  a  city  at,  73;  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 

Neuse  River,  41,  42,  43. 

New  York,  51,  77;  prison  system  in,  319. 

New  York  State,  233. 

New  York  Times,  telegram  to,  295;  Tribune,  telegram  to,  295;  telegram 
from,  294. 

Noble,  M.  C.  S.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Nominations  and  appointments,  59. 

Norfolk,  80,  81. 

Norfolk  Southern,  69,  80;  Railroad,  287. 

Norfolk  and  Western,  70. 

Normal  Training  School  at  Cullowhee,  199. 

Norman,  Jas.  H.,  Jr.,  signed  report,  315. 

Norris,  Henry,  appointment  of,  333. 

North  Carolina  and  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroads,  commission 
to  investigate,  332. 

North  Carolina  College  for  Women,  directors  of,  330. 

North  Carolina,  a  commissioner  for,  262;  attracted  attention,  96;  basic 
freight  rate  points  in,  49;  business  and  trade  taxed  in,  19;  com- 
missioners of  affidavits  for,  in  District  of  Columbia,  337;  in  Mary- 
land, 337;  in  New  York,  338;  in  Pennsylvania,  338;  in  South 
Carolina,  338;  in  Virginia,  338;  Congressional  District,  210;  Cor- 
poration Commission,  53;  cost  of  government  of,  85;  cotton  and 
tobacco  in,  184;  could  be  made  strongest  and  happiest  democracy  in 
world,  4;  created  no  public  debt,  12;  development  of  waterways  of, 


Index  357 

323;  Division  of  the  Near  East  Relief,  122;  failed  to  levy  taxes,  250; 
farmers  of,  159,  160,  166;  fisheries  in,  42;  Governor  of,  elected,  18; 
her  position  among  the  states  of  the  Union,  143;  Historical  Com- 
mission, members  of,  328;  hostility  of  press  of,  54;  income  of,  17; 
inland  waters,  41;  increased  property  and  strength  to  industries  in,  7; 
issued  bonds,  197;  labor  in,  162;  men  and  women  in,  will  serve  on 
boards,  27;  must  build  highways,  153;  navigable  water  towns  in,  11  \ 
navigable  waters  of,  87;  need  of  basic  points  in,  236;  new  day  in,  17; 
no  murmur  of  opposition  throughout,  20;  no  trouble  in,  286;  people 
in  complete  accord  in,  3;  people  should  be  educated,  6;  property  lost 
by  fire  in,  121;  Railroad,  174;  Railroad,  builded,  88;  Railroad,  direc- 
tors of,  335;  revenue  from  oyster  industry  in,  43;  rich  enough  to  care 
for  defective,  12;  Ship  and  Port  Commission,  52;  State  Board  of  Phar- 
macy, members  of,  336;  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineer- 
ing, 304;  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Engineering,  E.  C.  Brooks, 
president  of,  302;  State  Highway  Commission,  307;  State  Prison 
Board,  317;  system  of  highways  in,  19;  the  results  of  program  to, 
13;  to  be  stronger,  235;  to  do  duty  of  great  state,  36;  to  observe  Forest 
Protection  Week,  299;  to  progress,  178;  to  supervise  banks  in,  22; 
Treasurer  of,  54,  173. 

North  Carolina  Historical  Review,  68«. 

North  Carolina's  income  to  be  determined,  20. 

Northup,  W.  C,  appointment  of,  336. 

O 

Oates,  John  A.,  appointment  of,  327. 

O'Berry,  Nathan,  appointment  of,  32,  330. 

Oettinger,  Jonas,  appointment  of,  327. 

Oliver,  Samuel,  appointment  of,  338. 

Onslow  County,  43. 

Orthopedic  Hospital  at  Gastonia,  198;  members  of,  333. 

Overman,  Senator  Lee  S.,  record  of,  210. 


Page,  Frank,  on  Highway  Commission,  208. 

Henry  A.,  mayor  of  Aberdeen,  288. 

Mrs.  J.  R.,  appointment  of,  331. 

R.  N.,  appointment  of,  331;  mentioned,  264,  267. 
Pamlico  River,  41;  Sound,  41. 
Park,  John  A.,  letter  to,  307. 
Parker,  John  J.,  chairman,  148. 

R.  H.,  appointment  of,  326,  337. 

T.  R.,  appointment  of,  338. 

W.  W.,  appointment  of,  337. 

Governor,  mentioned,  295. 


358  Index 

Parker's,  Governor,  appeal,  294. 

Parkinson,  S.  B.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Parrott,  Jos.  M.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Parsons,  Walter  L.,  appointment  of,  32,  34,  330,  331;  director,  204. 

Pasquotank  County,  18. 

Patterson,  Jas.  F.,  appointment  of,  335,  337. 

Paxton,  J.  F.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Pfohl,  S.  F.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Philadelphia,  11 . 

Pitt  County,  199. 

Pittman,  Thomas  M.,  appointment  of,  325. 

Pless,  J.  W.,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Plymouth,  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 

Peace  Institute,  179. 

Pearsall,  P.  M.,  appointment  of,  332. 

Pembroke,  officers,  339. 

Person,  Wiley  M.,  appointment  of,  327. 

Peterson,  Charles  A.,  telegram  to,  255. 

Petty,  W.  C,  appointment  of,  334. 

Poe,  Clarence,  letter  to,  304. 

Pogue,  Jos.  E.,  appointment  of,  327. 

Pollard,  Mrs.  B.  E.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Port  Commission,  members  of,  329. 

Port  and  Water-carried  Commerce  Development  Bill,  defeated,  266. 

Poteat,  Wm.  L.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Pou,  George  Ross,  report  by,  323;  signed  report,  315. 

Powell,  A.  H.,  appointment  of,  33. 

Pratt,  Joseph  Hyde,  maps  prepared  by,  44;  resigned,  257. 

Presidential  electors,  136. 

Press  reports  by  A.  J.  Maxwell,  54. 

Proclamation,  calling  special  session,  29. 

Proclamation  by  Cameron  Morrison,  101,  102,  103,  105,  107,  108,  110, 

111,  112,  113,  115,  117,  119,  121, 122, 123, 124, 125,  126, 127, 128,  129, 

130,  131,  132,  133,  134,  135,  136. 
Proclamation  by  President,  147,  297. 
"Prosperity  Reigns  in  North  Carolina,"  295. 
Public  Welfare,  Commissioner  of,  314. 
Pugsley,  C.  W.,  letter  to,  299;  letter  from,  298. 
Pulliam,  S.  C,  signed  resolves,  306. 
Pungo  River,  41. 

Q 

Queen's  College,  179. 

Queen,  H.  C,  appointment  of,  32. 

R 

Ragland,  M.  J.,  appointment  of,  337. 


Index  359 

Raleigh,  101,  106,  107,  109,  110,  113,  115,  117,  118,  119,  120,  122,  127, 
128,  129,  130,  132,  133,  134;  General  Assembly  called  to  meet  at,  29; 
Hospital,  visiting  physicians  of,  334;  Hospital,  visiting  surgeons  at, 
333;  Insane  Asylum  at,  214;  institution  for  insane  at,  202;  News  and 
Observer^  291;  Nevjs  and  Observer,  headlines  in,  250. 
Rand,  Josephine,  oath  taken  before,  316. 
Rankin,  Dr.  W.  S.,  mentioned,  200. 
Ransom,  Geo.  E.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Ray,  R.  R.,  appointment  of,  333. 
Red  Cross,  237;  appeal,  126. 

Republicans,  218;  Party,  235;  State  Platform,  259. 
Revenue  bill,  244,  245,  246,  247,  248,  254. 
Reynolds,  R.  J.,  life  of,  218;  monument  to,  219. 

Mrs.  R.  J.,  appointment  of,  330. 
Richardson,  J.  F.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Richardson,  Wm.  H.,  Private  Secretary,  30,  63,  101,  102,  105,  106,  108, 

109,  110,  111,  113,  115,  117,  118,  119,  120,  122,  123,  125,  126,  127, 

128,  129,  130,  131,  132,  133,  134,  135,  136,  137;  salary,  61;  letter  from, 

299;  telegram  from,  306;  signed  reward,  317. 

Richmond  County,  law-abiding,  281. 

Road  Building  and  Maintenance  Demonstration  and  Road  Machinery 

Exhibit,  307. 
Roanoke  River,  41;  Sound,  41. 
Roberson,  Foy,  appointment  of,  333. 
Robeson  County,  71,  199. 
Roberts,  Gallatin,  appointment  of,  97,  339. 
Robinson,  John  Daniel,  appointment  of,  32,  329,  330. 

J.  Lee,  appointment  of,  333. 

Sloan,  M.,  appointment  of,  31,  331;  director,  204. 
Rocky  Mount,  113;  business  men  of,  241;  mayor  of,  231,  279;  no  coaling 

at,  289;  outrage  reported  at,  232;  strike,  112,  113. 
Rogers,  W.  A.,  appointment  of,  33,  327. 

Mrs.  I.  H.,  affidavit  of,  313;  signed  affidavit,  316. 
Rpndthaler,  Howard  E.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Rose,  Chas.  G.,  appointment  of,  332. 

I.  W.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Rotary  Clubs,  159;  District  Conference,  307. 
Rousseau,  Julius  A.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Rowan  County,  sheriff  of,  233. 
Royster,  B.  S.,  appointment  of,  332. 

Hubert  A.,  appointment  of,  333;  telegram  from,  27S. 

Hubert,  Jr.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Ruffin,  Thos.  W.,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Rutherfordton,  69,  80. 
Ryan,  J.  T.,  signed  telegram,  263. 


360  Index 


at,  233. 


lirector,  204. 


Saint  Mary's,  179. 
Salisbury,  tense  situation  at,  zjj. 
Samarcand,  girls  at,  175;  girls  provided  for,  198. 
Sanatorium  provided  for,  198. 
Sand  Hills  section,  211. 

Sanders,  W.  M.,  appointment  of,  330;  director,  205;  signed  report,  315. 
Sanford,  11 . 

Saunders,  W.  O.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Savannah,  80,  81. 

Scales,  A.  M.,  appointment  of,  31,  329,  330,  331,  334;  member  of  com- 
mission, 90,  264;  resigned,  35. 
Schenck,  Michael,  appointment  of,  325. 
School,  inadequate  funds  to  maintain  six  months,  28;  provide  funds  for 

six  months,  30. 
Schull,  William  E.,  appointment  of,  337. 
Scotland  County,  71,  265. 
Scott,  Don  E.,  appointment  of,  328. 

John  M.,  appointment  of,  31,  331;  dii 

R.  W.,  appointment  of,  327. 
"Sculptor,"  187. 

Seaboard  Air  Line,  69,  80;  peaches  delivered  to,  288. 
Seavey,  James  Arthur,  wrote  article,  295. 
Secretary  of  State,  325. 

Shannanhouse,  Wm.  T.,  appointment  of,  338. 
Shaw,  Miss  Easdale,  appointment  of,  330. 

Siler,  Walter  D.,  appointment  of,  335,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Simmons,  Senator  F.  M.,  record  of,  210. 
Simonton's,  Judge  Charles  H.,  decree,  68,  259. 
Sinclair,  Judge  N.  A.,  his  judgment,  256. 
■  Sitterson,  S.  C,  appointment  of,  328. 

Mrs.  S.  C,  appointment  of,  33,  331. 
Small,  John  H.,  appointment  of,  327. 
Smith,  Charles  Alfred,  appointment  of,  338. 

Gordon,  appointment  of,  97,  339. 

Ben  E.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Ben  J.,  appointment  of,  335. 

B.  R.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Mrs.  Hunter,  appointment  of,  332. 

Walter  Bell,  appointment  of,  338. 

W.  A.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Smoot,  C.  C,  appointment  of,  327. 
Smyrna,  massacre  at,  237;  refugees  from,  238. 
Soldiers'  Home,  directors  of,  329. 
Solicitors,  appointments  of,  326. 


Index  361 

Southbound  Railroad,  70. 

Southern  Railroad,  232. 

Southport,  50,  72;  a  city  at,  73;  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92;  port 
at,  71. 

South  Rocky  Mount,  Emerson  Shops  at,  279. 

Spartanburg,  70. 

Spence,  T.  T.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Union  L.,  appointment  of,  327. 

Spencer,  strike,  115;  tense  situation  at,  233. 

Spier,  Morgan  B.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Spruce  Pine,  70;  situation  at,  255. 

Sprunt,  Jas.,  appointment  of,  329. 
W.  H.,  appointment  of,  32,  34. 

Spurgeon,  J.  S.,  appointment  of,  336. 

Stafford,  Mrs.  E.  E.,  appointment  of,  331. 

Staley,  A.  P.,  appointment  of,  337. 

State  Board  of  Accountancy,  members  of,  337;  of  Architectural  Examina- 
tion and  Registration,  members  of,  336;  of  Charities  and  Public  Wel- 
fare, appointments  to,  31,  60;  of  Charities,  members  of,  329;  of 
Chiropractic  Examiners,  members  of,  336;  of  Dental  Examiners 
members  of,  336;  of  Education,  302;  of  Examiners  in  Optometry, 
members  of,  337;  of  Health,  members  of,  331;  of  Health,  Secretary 
of,  321;  of  Osteopathic  Examiners,  members  of,  336;  of  Registra- 
tion of  Engineers  and  Surveyors,  members  of,  337;  of  Veterinary 
Examiners,  members  of,  337;  of  Vocational  Education,  members  of, 
331;  College  of  Agricultute  and  Engineering,  144,  145,  175,  198; 
Constabulary,  members  of,  339;  commission  to  investigate,  97; 
Constitution,  amended,  17;  Department  of  Public  Instruction,  142; 
Department  of  Public  Welfare,  142;  Department  of  Revenue,  trans- 
fer duties  and  powers  to,  34;  Geologist,  44,  326;  Geological  Board, 
appointment  of  member  of,  35;  Highway  Commission,  assisting  in 
making  maps,  44;  Highway  Commission,  appointment  to,  59,  60; 
Highway  Commission,  appointment  of  members  of,  35;  highway 
system  to  be  built,  8;  Hospital,  appointments  of  directors  of,  31,  32, 
34,  35;  Hospital,  Goldsboro,  directors  of,  329,  330;  Hospital,  Morgan- 
ton,  directors  of,  331;  Hospital,  Raleigh,  directors  of,  330;  hospitals, 
visiting  committee  of,  333;  Insurance  Department,  106,  122;  main- 
taining public  roads,  8;  Prison,  Board  of  Directors  of,  313;  Prison, 
directors  of,  330;  Prison,  number  of  camps  of  prisoners,  318;  Prison, 
reclassification  of  prisoners  in,  320;  Public  indebtedness  of,  12;  Public 
Utilities  Commission,  309;  Sanatorium,  directors  of,  327;  School  for 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  Morganton,  directors  of,  328;  School  for  Blind  and 
Deaf,  appointments  of  directors  of,  33;  School  for  Deaf  and  Blind 
at  Raleigh,  directors  of,  327;  Ship  and  Port  Commission,  306;  Ship 
and  Water  Transportation  Commission  62,  65,  73,  85;  Ship  and 
Water  Transportation  Commission,  members  of,  329;  Ship  and  Water 


362  Index 


Transportation  Commission,  men  composing  it,  90;  Ship  and  Water 
Transportation  Commission,  recommendations  of,  67;  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction,  301,  302,  303;  Training  School  for  Negro 
Boys,  members,  332;  Treasury,  239;  Treasurer's  account,  253. 

Staters  bonds,  a  sale  of,  12;  indebtedness,  268;  power  to  contract  debt, 
a  limitation  on,  40;  Prison  Board,  reward  offered  by,  323;  University, 
must  be  made  adequate,  7. 

Stedman,  Chas.  M.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Frank,  appointment  of,  327. 

Stephenson,  M.  R.,  appointment  of,  33,  331. 
T.  M.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Steppe,  N.  F.,  appointment  of,  334. 

St.  Mihiel,  battle  of,  131. 

Stokes,  J.  S.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Stone,  R.  W.  H.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Stone  Mountain  Memorial  Association,  members  of,  328. 

Stonewall  Jackson  Training  School,  175,  198,  214;  trustees  of,  326. 

Storey,  Walter  E.,  appointment  of,  338. 

Stowe,  Jas.  P.,  appointment  of,  331. 

Stikeleather,  James  A.,  appointment  of,  335. 

Strosnider,  C.  F.,  appointment  of,  328. 

Stubbs,  chief  electrician,  287. 

Styron,  Jodie,  appointment  of,  336. 

Sullivan,  Miss  Jane  C,  appointment  of,  334. 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  325;  estimates  of,  226. 

Superior  Court  Judges,  325;  Emergency  Judges,  325. 

Supreme  Court,  226;  action  pending  before,  67;  Chief  Justice  of,  325; 
Judges,  325;  to  try  case,  260;  State  lost  suit  before,  68w. 

Swain  County,  18. 

Swain,  J.  E.,  229. 


Tate,  Fred  N.,  signed  telegram,  263. 

Thad,  appointment  of,  332. 
Taxation,  12,  15,  to  raise  road  construction  money,  10. 
Taxation;  Department  of  Revenue;  Commissioner  of  Banks,  15. 

Taxation,  15. 

Revaluation,  21. 

Recommendation,  21. 

Appointments  to  fill  offices  created,  23. 
Taylor,  R.  S.,  appointment  of,  327. 

Teacher  Training  School,  175;  must  be  made  adequate,  7. 
Text  Book  Commission,  members  of,  334. 
Thaggard,  J.  L.,  appointment  of,  339. 
Thanksgiving  Day,  108,  119,  128,  135,  186. 


Index  363 


"The  Cotter's  Saturday  Night,"  189. 
The  Old  North  State,  220. 
Thirtieth  Division,  168. 
Thomas,  J.  C,  appointment  of,  327. 

J.  W.,  letter  from,  280. 
Thompson,  Cyrus,  offered  resolutions,  277. 

C.  A.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Thorne,  Spencer  T.,  appointment  of,  332. 

T.  T.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Thrace,  237. 

Tillett,  Mrs.  C.  W.,  appointment  of,  326. 
Timberlake,  E.  W.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Tomlinson,  Chas.  F.,  appointment  of,  330. 
Treasurer  of  North  Carolina,  54. 
Treasury  Department,  58;  Mr.  Moody  of,  55. 
Trinity,  179. 

Tubercular  Colony,  establishment  of,  318. 
Tucker,  Harry  St.  George,  appointment  of,  337. 

L.  W.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Tufts,  Leonard,  appointment  of,  331. 
Turkish  victory,  237. 
Turner,  Mamie  C,  salary  of,  61. 

W.  D.,  appointment  of,  326. 

U 

Underwood,  W.  A.,  appointment  of,  338. 

United  Mine  Workers,  proposal  of  Federal  Government  to,  284. 

United  Soldiers  of  the  Armies  of  the  Confederacy,  170. 

United  States,  81,  82;  aids  college,  178;  Attorney-General  of,  259; 
bonds,  investing  sinking  fund  in,  41;  Congress  of,  209;  democracy  of, 
193;  District  Court,  112,  231;  fire  loss  in,  132;  functions  of  govern- 
ment in,  156;  funeral  services  of  President  of,  125;  government  collect- 
ing tax,  18;  government's  Revenue  Act,  246;  President  of,  131,  147, 
148,  237,  297;  richer  than  any  two  countries,  14. 

University,  175,  179;  boys  at,  198;  girls  and  boys  sent  to,  6;  necessary 
improvements  at,  12;  of  North  Carolina,  Board  of  Trustees  of,  277, 
304;  of  North  Carolina,  New  York  Alumni  Association  of,  296;  of 
State,  258. 

V 

Vance,  Z.  B.,  appointment  of,  328. 

Vanderbilt,  Mrs.  Edith,  appointment  of,  327. 

Vanstory,  C.  M.,  appointment  of,  334. 

Varser,  L.  R.,  appointment  of,  32,  332;  director,  204;  mentioned,  55,  56. 

Virginia  cities,  freight  rates  to,  49. 


364  Index 


W 


Waddell,  Chas.  E.,  appointment  of,  329,  331,  337;  member  of  commission, 

90,  264. 
Wade,  J.  E.  L.,  appointment  of,  97,  339. 

R.  T.,  appointment  of,  329. 
Wake  Forest,  179. 

Walker,  Murchison,  presidential  elector,  137. 
Robert  N.,  appointment  of,  337. 
Associate  Justice,  Piatt  D.,  deceased,  300. 
Wall,  H.  C,  appointment  of,  327. 
Wallace,  Chas,  S.,  appointment  of,  329,  330;  member  of  commission, 

90,  264. 
Wallgren,  cartoonist,  141. 
Ward,  T.  Boddie,  appointment  of,  334. 
War  Department,  131. 
Warren,  C,  S.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Washington,  50;  need  to  assemble  products  at,  92. 
Washington  City,  Woodrow  Wilson  died  in,  129. 
Washington  Memorial  Committee  at  Valley  Forge,  members  of,  326. 
Watauga  County,  199. 

Watts,  A.  D.,  appointment  of,  34,  270,  325;  taxation  under  administra- 
tion of,  38;  mentioned,  271. 

Mrs.  Geo.  W.,  appointment  of,  330. 
Way,  J.  Howell,  appointment  of,  331. 
Webb,  Chas.  V.,  appointment  of,  334. 

W.  M.,  appointment  of,  335. 
Weill,  William,  appointment  of,  335. 
Weskett,  Jno.  S.,  appointment  of,  335. 
West,  Louis  N.,  appointment  of,  334. 
Western  North  Carolina,  fish  hatcheries  in,  45;  fish  in  streams  of,  212; 

streams  of,  176,  177;  waterways  in,  241, 
Wharton,  E.  P.,  appointment  of,  35,  331;  director,  204. 
Wheeler,  J.  H.,  appointment  of,  336. 
White,  Gilbert  C,  appointment  of,  335,  337. 

W.  H.,  appointment  of,  332. 
Whitlock,  Victor  E.,  signed  telegram,  296. 

P.  C,  appointment  of,  326,  333. 
Wily,  John  F.,  appointment  of,  32,  330;  director,  204. 
Wilkinson,  William  C,  appointment  of,  35,  335;  on  Highway  Commis- 
sion, 208. 
Williams,  C.  B.,  appointment  of,  326. 

Mrs.  Marshall  P.,  appointment  of,  32. 
Mrs.  Marshall  F.,  appointment  of,  330. 
WilHard,  M.  S.,  appointment  of,  336. 
Willis,  A.  D,,  appointment  of,  336, 


Index  365 

Willis,  Margaret  V.,  salary  of,  61. 

Wilmington,  50,  69,  72,  80,  83;  a  city  at,  73;  need  to  assemble  products 

at,  92;  port  at,  71. 
Wilson,  Geo.  W.,  presidential  elector,  137. 

John  E.,  appointment  of,  337. 

Woodrow,  210;  administration  of,  236;  died,  129;  memory  of,  130. 
Winston-Salem,  70,  199,  220;  assemblage  at,  265. 
Woman's  College,  179;  girls  provided  for,  198. 

State  College,  175. 
Wood,  E.  J.,  appointment  of,  334. 

T.  F.,  appointment  of,  329. 

Ward  H.,  appointment  of,  35. 
Woodard,  C.  A.,  appointment  of,  333. 

Mrs.  Walter  F.,  appointment  of,  31,  329. 
Woodrow  Wilson  Memorial  Sunday,  130. 
Woodrow  Wilson's  death,  129. 
World  War,  148,  182;  hostilities  of,  end,  135;  soldiers  of,  169;  taught 

tolerance,  141. 
Worthy,  F.  S.,  appointment  of,  328. 
Wreckage  commissioners,  336. 
Wright,  Jno.  B.,  appointment  of,  334. 


Zoeller,  E.  V.,  appointment  of,  336. 


